Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levi defended the force’s response after a week marked by a surge of killings across the country, saying police are operating in a 'continuous emergency' but that some murders are sudden and impossible to կանխент. His comments followed one of the deadliest stretches of the year, with multiple fatal stabbings and shootings in both Jewish and Arab communities.

The killing of 21-year-old Yemanu Binyamin Zalka in Petah Tikva became a focal point for public anger. Zalka, a recently released soldier working at a restaurant, was allegedly stabbed by a minor after asking a group of teenagers to stop spraying party foam inside the establishment. Residents and opposition lawmakers accused police of responding too slowly, and hundreds gathered to demand greater security.

Other victims in recent days included women and men killed in Beersheba, Rahat, Yarka, Ramle, Isfiya, and additional locations, with advocacy groups reporting nearly 100 Arab citizens killed since the start of 2026 in crime-related violence. Further incidents over the weekend included the stabbing of a teenager and a suspected murder-suicide involving a father and his young son.

Levi said some killings are linked to organized crime and ongoing feuds, while others reflect deeper social problems requiring action beyond policing, including education, welfare, prosecution, and the courts. Despite pledging to devote full resources to investigations, many residents say the wave of violence has created a growing sense that public safety is deteriorating.