Gun crime violence among Palestinians in Israel: Strategies to transform violence

Today there are approximately 1.7 million Palestinians living in Israel making up 20% of the total population, the majority being under the age of 20. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in gun violence within this community. In 2018, the murder rate in the Arab society in Israel was more than five times the rate in the West Bank and eight times the rate among Jewish Israelis. In 2020, 112 Arabs were murdered marking a 71.68% increase since 2011, the highest since 1948.
Between 2015-2019, 82% of homicides using guns were among Arabs and 66% of murder victims in Israel were Arab in 2019; more than three times their relative size within the population.
Our joint study in 2020 with Baladna, Arab youth organisation in Haifa, demonstrated 51% of Arabs killed were under the age of 30 and 47.3% by guns, while Knesset reports show that there are 400,000 illegal small firearms in the Arab community most comes from the Israeli army. Recent clashes between Arab and Jewish citizens in the last episode of conflict highlights the volatility of the situation and the marginalisation of Arabs.

This project aims to gain greater understanding of the nature and the causes of increased gun crime violence amongst Arab youth and build their capacity for conflict transformation to deter from the use of guns. Currently we are conducting pilot research in five Arab localities in Israel. The next stage will map organisations working with Arab youth and other stakeholders discuss with them the research findings. Enhance policy and strategy development at local and national level (Mayors, social, political leaders, Knesset members) to prevent violence and mobilise for social political change and peaceful society.