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March 2024 – The Northern District Attorney’s Office is set to file severe indictments Thursday against three suspects in the June 19 double murder that shook the northern Golan Heights. The victims, Marwan Abu Shahin, 52, from Buq’ata, and Sa’adah Sa’adah, 56, of Hurfeish, were killed in a brazen daytime shooting.
The case, investigated by the Northern District Central Unit under the direction of District Commander Meir Eliyahu, uncovered a clear motive: Abu Shahin had refused to pay protection money to a local criminal organization. The refusal triggered a meticulously planned hit.
The attack unfolded on June 19 around midday, when police received reports of gunfire targeting vehicles in Buq’ata. First responders arrived to find both men dead at the scene. The swift, coordinated shooting suggested professional execution.
During the covert investigation, police discovered that a hit squad had been assembled days earlier. They rented a vacation home in the northern Golan the day before the murder. To avoid detection, the squad purchased two vehicles from a car lot in Isfiya, a Druze village in the Carmel region.
As the investigation gained momentum, seven suspects were arrested. The vehicle used in the attack was seized in Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanese border. However, the main suspect managed to flee.
The breakthrough came in July, when detectives in Yarka, a Druze town in the Galilee, noticed a masked man exiting a business after shooting and seriously wounding an employee. The officers gave chase on foot as the suspect fired at them, then attempted to flee on a suspected stolen motorcycle while wearing a helmet. When they removed the helmet, they recognized him as the prime suspect in the double murder.
District Commander Eliyahu praised the persistence of his team. “Solving murder cases and stopping severe crime remains the top priority of the Northern District,” he said. “We invest our best resources, technological tools, intelligence capabilities, and most skilled forces to reach every crime scene, solve every case, and bring suspects to justice.”
He added, “Even now, our best officers are working tirelessly to solve open cases, ensure that anyone involved in serious crime is held accountable, and send a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated.”
The case highlights the growing challenge of organized crime in the Golan Heights, a region with a mixed population of Druze, Jews, and Muslims. Criminal networks in the area have increasingly turned to extortion and violence, targeting local businesses and residents. Law enforcement agencies have responded with stepped-up patrols and intelligence-led operations.
The indictments, to be filed at the Nazareth District Court, include charges of murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons, and conspiracy to commit a crime. The three suspects remain in custody pending trial.
Legal experts note that the swift resolution of this case demonstrates the effectiveness of cross-district cooperation and the use of advanced forensic methods. “The coordination between the Northern District and local police units was key,” said a former senior investigator who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They shared intelligence in real time and followed the evidence without interruption.”
The victims’ families have expressed relief that the suspects will face justice, though they continue to mourn the loss of Abu Shahin, a respected father of four, and Sa’adah, a longtime community figure in Hurfeish.
The case also underscores the risks faced by individuals who refuse to capitulate to criminal demands. “Protection rackets are a plague on our communities,” said a local activist. “When people stand up, they are targeted. The police must remain vigilant.”
Thursday’s hearing is expected to draw significant media attention, as the Golan Heights remains a focal point for both security and criminal challenges. The Northern District Police have vowed to maintain pressure on organized crime networks, deploying undercover officers and surveillance technology to prevent further violence.
Authorities are also investigating whether the same criminal organization is linked to other unsolved shootings and extortion cases in the region. “We are building a comprehensive picture,” said a police spokesperson. “The arrest of these three suspects is a major step, but the work is far from over.”
The indictment filing marks a critical milestone in a case that began with a bloody afternoon and ended with a daring foot chase. For the residents of Buq’ata and Hurfeish, it offers a measure of closure, but the shadow of organized crime remains.
