Sakhnin, Israel — Tens of thousands of Arab citizens took to the streets Thursday in a massive demonstration, part of a sweeping general strike protesting what they call a relentless failure by police to address a surge in violent crime within their communities. The scale of the protest—the largest in recent years—underscores a growing sense of desperation and abandonment.
A Community Reaches Its Breaking Point
The strike and march represent a desperate plea for government intervention as homicides continue to rise in Arab society.
- Twenty people have been killed in Arab communities since the start of 2026.
- 2025 was the deadliest year on record for Arab citizens of Israel, with 252 murder victims.
- Protesters are specifically targeting Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, accusing him of indifference.
- The strike began in Sakhnin due to near-nightly shootings linked to protection racketeering.
- Arab political leaders have agreed to reestablish a united political bloc, the Joint List, in response to the crisis.
What’s driving this surge in violence? The escalating crime wave, often linked to organized crime and protection rackets, has left residents living in fear and feeling increasingly neglected by law enforcement. The protests are a direct response to this perceived lack of protection and accountability.
The march, originating in Sakhnin, saw demonstrators—many accompanied by their children—travel from Arab locales across northern and central Israel. Protesters carried black flags and chanted slogans in Arabic, including a pointed rebuke of far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir: “[Itamar] Ben Gvir, you miserable man, Arab blood isn’t cheap.”
The strike in Sakhnin began three days prior, triggered by a wave of near-nightly shootings targeting businesses, often related to extortion. Storeowners initiated the closure on Tuesday, a move that quickly spread to other Arab cities and towns across the country.
Leading the demonstration were Jamal Zahalka, the new head of the High Follow-Up Committee—the leading umbrella organization representing Arab Israelis—and Mazen Ghnaim, the mayor of Sakhnin and a former member of the Ra’am party. Parallel, smaller demonstrations also took place in Bedouin towns in the south, including Rahat.
“The [Arab] public has no hope, they understand that the prime minister and the rest of the government ministers have abandoned them,” said Hadash-Ta’al MK Aida Touma-Sliman, who participated in the Sakhnin march. She noted that the unprecedented turnout was made possible by the recent conclusion of the two-year war in Gaza, which had previously overshadowed concerns within the Arab community.
Touma-Sliman sharply criticized Ben Gvir, accusing him of effectively outsourcing law enforcement to criminal organizations. “Ben Gvir is succeeding in advancing a policy in which criminal organizations are a subcontractor for him,” she claimed. “He stands by and watches how criminal organizations control our lives and frighten the public.”
Ahead of the march, authorities blocked buses from entering Sakhnin and impeded drivers attempting to reach the city, forcing many protesters to walk considerable distances. Demonstrators initially intended to march to the Misgav police station, but were met by a large contingent of riot police, mounted officers, and a water cannon.
Police maintained that the protest route remained unchanged and was approved by the High Court of Justice, despite protesters’ claims to the contrary. While most demonstrators turned back, hundreds of young men remained on the highway, facing off against law enforcement. Sakhnin municipality workers formed a human barrier between the protesters and police, shouting insults at Ben Gvir.
Protesters chant “Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir, you son of a bitch” as massive march in Sakhnin against violent crime in Arab society meets wall of riot police. Municipal workers are separating protesters and law enforcement pic.twitter.com/NYbpS8RMiH
— charlie summers (@cbsu03) January 22, 2026
Despite the tense standoff, no clashes broke out and no arrests were made, according to police. Ben Gvir responded to the strike by accusing Arab leadership of hypocrisy, stating they “speak in two voices”—criticizing the police while simultaneously opposing law enforcement actions in Arab towns.
He also pointed to opposition to recent police raids in Bedouin towns, including one that resulted in the fatal shooting of an Arab man, as evidence of alleged support for criminal activity among local leaders.
Following the march, Arab leaders convened in Sakhnin city hall to discuss strategies for sustaining the momentum of the strike and demonstration. Zahalka claimed the demonstration drew 100,000 attendees. During the meeting, the heads of four leading Arab parties signed a pledge to revive the Joint List, a unified political bloc, for the next Knesset elections.
The parties had been in negotiations for months to revive the list, driven by intense pressure from the Arab public. These talks were complicated by internal disputes, particularly regarding Ra’am’s desire to potentially split from the bloc and join a governing coalition independently. A spokesperson for one of the parties indicated that the four party leaders were pressured into a public agreement amid the widespread public outcry over the escalating crime.
“You can’t say it’s absolutely final, but such a public commitment will lead to more serious meetings, and everyone will be afraid to come out looking like the ones who collapsed the list,” the spokesperson said.
