During a violent night in Silwan, three members of the Al-A’war family were killed in a family dispute that escalated to gunfire, leading to police intervention
The town of Silwan in Jerusalem is mourning today, Sunday, after a violent night that resulted in the death of three Al-A’war family members. The long-standing family feud flared up again, leading to an armed confrontation with gunfire, grenades, firecrackers, and Molotov cocktails. Israeli police intervened and, according to official reports, killed two additional family members.
The Al-A’war family council mourns the death of three of its sons: Ahmed Khalil Abbas Al-A’war, Issam Mohammad Abbas Al-A’war, and Khalil Abbas Khalil Al-A’war. The town is shrouded in grief, and the bodies of the victims still remain in Israeli custody.
Throughout the night, Silwan's streets were filled with tension and clashes, marked by frequent tear gas, firecrackers, and gunfire, which caused residents, especially children, to experience fear and terror.
The conflict between the Al-A’war and Al-Abbasi families has lasted about five years, based on local reports. It started with a verbal disagreement at a funeral, which later turned into a physical fight and involved knife attacks.
During those events, a member of the Abbasi family suffered a serious back injury. Once calm was restored, the dispute reemerged about a month ago after a new attack involving members of both families. This reignited tensions and increased the risk of further escalation.
Armed confrontation results in first death
Last night's confrontation escalated into a street incident, with members of both families gathering and an armed clash breaking out, resulting in gunfire and injuries on both sides.
Issa Abbasi suffered severe injuries, and his condition was reported as serious.
During the early stage of the confrontation, Issam Mohammad Abbas Al-A’war was injured and subsequently died from his wounds.
As the clashes intensified, Israeli police and border guards intervened.
Police: Shooting occurred in response to an "immediate and real threat"
Israeli police announced that they are investigating a shooting in Silwan. The violence intensified following the death of a wounded individual and involved live gunfire, firecracker launches, and Molotov cocktails being thrown.
The statement mentioned that police and border guards, during their operation in the area, observed two individuals allegedly armed with knives and Molotov cocktails, and claimed they represented an "immediate and real threat" to the officers' lives.
The police stated they fired at the two individuals to "neutralize the threat," which led to their deaths on the spot.
The two men who died were Khalil Abbas Khalil Al-A’war and Ahmed Khalil Abbas Al-A’war, bringing the total number of Al-A’war family members killed in recent events to three.
Based on the information available locally, the two men who were shot by police had injuries to their upper bodies.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, and the events leading up to it, require independent on-site documentation, especially given the conflicting accounts of the confrontation and the sequence of events.
Gas and bullets cast a heavy shadow over Silwan
As police officers spread across the town's streets, they heavily relied on tear gas to disperse residents. Eyewitnesses who recorded the events after midnight reported that police also assaulted several community leaders trying to mediate and control the unrest.
During the night, dense gas covered sections of Silwan's streets. Residents likened it to a cloud of smoke and gas, with the noise of explosions and gunfire nearby.
The noise of gunfire and explosions caused panic among the town's residents, especially children, who experienced hours of fear during the blasts near their homes.
Three dead… and bodies held
As the Al-A’war family mourns the loss of three of its sons, the bodies of the victims are still held, with the consequences of the events ongoing in the town.
The clashes resulted in casualties on both sides and created an atmosphere of tension, grief, and fear among the residents.
Silwan is experiencing this tragedy firsthand, as the Al-A’war family gets ready to say goodbye to three of its sons, amidst calls to stop the escalation, prevent the conflict from spreading, and end more bloodshed in the town.
Following the violent events, community leaders, mediators, and activists in Silwan from both sides persist in urging restraint and calling for an end to the bloodshed. They emphasize the importance of efforts to halt escalation, prevent renewed clashes, and manage the fallout from the dispute to avoid further casualties.
