Sakhnin Pharmacist Shot After Refusing Protection Money Demands
Awwad Zbidat, a pharmacist in Sakhnin, was shot and moderately wounded by masked gunmen in his store. The attack follows his refusal to pay over 200,000 shekels in protection money to local criminal organizations.
The phenomenon of extortion, locally known as "protection," has emerged in recent years as one of the primary criminal threats to Israel's economy and personal security. According to law enforcement and intelligence estimates, hundreds of business owners, contractors, and infrastructure companies are forced to pay massive sums monthly to criminal organizations to prevent damage to their property or lives.
The impact is particularly severe in peripheral areas—specifically in the south and north of the country—and within Arab municipalities, where crime syndicates have exploited a governance vacuum to develop sophisticated collection mechanisms. Despite legislative efforts to stiffen penalties, most extortion incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation.
Armed Assault in Sakhnin
Yesterday evening, Awwad Zbidat, a pharmacist and owner of the "Al-Pharmashani" pharmacy in Sakhnin, paid a heavy price for standing firm against criminals. Two masked individuals broke into the pharmacy and opened fire at close range, in front of his wife and two customers who were inside.
Zbidat sustained moderate injuries and evacuated himself to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. Despite being hit by gunfire, he attempted to fight back, throwing objects at the attackers until they fled the scene.
Refusal to Yield to Extortion
This severe shooting did not occur in a vacuum. Last month, it was revealed that the pharmacy had been shot at in two separate incidents, with over 50 bullets fired at the storefront after Zbidat refused demands by criminals to pay protection fees exceeding 200,000 shekels.
Following the threats and customers' fear of visiting the location, the business suffered heavy losses, forcing Zbidat to temporarily close the pharmacy. In an interview at the time, he stated resolutely:
"I cannot pay even a single shekel in protection money. I will not pay protection in any form; we must not surrender to such people."
Community Outrage and Protests
Following the shooting, dozens of Sakhnin residents gathered at the pharmacy, expressing intense anger over the ongoing protection racket and the perceived inaction of authorities. The incident joins a broader wave of protests that has swept the city and the wider Arab community since the beginning of the year, including business strikes and mass demonstrations demanding decisive, systematic action against organized crime. The police have launched an investigation and are searching for the suspects.
