Terrorist convicted for killing spree in Haifa
Muhammad Shinawi, 22, confesses to murder of Guy Kafri and attempted murder of Yehiel Iluz in January 2017, admits his acts were nationalistically motivated; indictment concluded seeds of his hatred toward Jews were sown during Second Lebanon War.
Shinawi confessed to all the facts mentioned in the indictment and admitted the attack was nationalistically motivated. He also confessed to use of a weapon, possession of a knife, attempted robbery and car theft.
According to the indictment, which was filed in late Janaury 2017 after Shinawi turned himself into police custody in Acre, his murderous actions were motivated by anti-Semitism
The indictment concluded that the seeds of Shinawi’s hatred toward Jews were sown approximately 10 years ago, during the Second Lebanon War.
"Over the years, the defendant's hatred toward Jews intensified due to intermittent incidents involving Jews experienced by himself and members of his family,” the indictment states.
“His belief that Jews are infidels also increased, and were thus valid targets for physical harm," it continued. "In the last few months prior to the events described below, his hatred intensified even further in light of additional events he experienced, and the desire for revenge became stronger."
The indictment also described how at the end of 2015, Shinawi purchased an improvised machine gun which he painted black and managed to conceal as he practiced shooting it in the area's woods.
On the night between January 2 and 3, "he made up his mind, and the decision to kill Jews with his weapon had crystallized," the indictment deduced. He asked his younger brother, who is a minor, to bring him the weapon after which he loaded it and concealed it in his brother's presence.
Later, Shinawi told his brother that if anything were to happen, he should say that Shinawi had sent him for the weapon; according to the Prosecutor's office the brother was not aware of Shinawi's intention to execute a terror attack.
Shinawi concealed the weapon in a backpack and close to 9:30 am, he arrived at Ha'atzmaut Street in Haifa in order to carry out the attack.
Shinawi fired several times at his first victim, Yehiel Iluz—a visibly religious Jewish man—from a short distance while the weapon was still concealed in his bag, causing Iluz to collapse on the ground before his attempted murderer fled the scene.
The indictment describes how the defendant then hailed a taxi and was dropped off in Chalisa neighborhood. During the interrogation, it was revealed that as he was fleeing the scene, Shinawi fired again in the direction of a Jewish woman in the area, but she was not harmed.
As it neared 10 am, on HaGiborim Street, the shooter noticed Kafri walking by himself. "When he realized that the victim was Jewish, and in accordance with his initial decision to kill Jews, the defendant made up his mind to murder his victim. From a short distance, the defendant fired the weapon, with the intention of killing him. Three bullets hit the deceased in the left side of the chest and neck, causing his death."
