A 38-year-old Arab-Israeli citizen died after being shot in broad daylight near the Jaffa port on Saturday.
Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics said they found the man, who has been identified as Abed Kazaz, unconscious in the water near the pier with gunshot wounds.
According to local media, Kazaz was a convicted criminal known to police. He was released from prison two years ago, after serving five and a half years for running over a police officer.
Kazaz reportedly became one of Jaffa’s most wanted criminals after the murder of Izzat Hamed in July, who was closely acquainted with Kazaz, reports state.
Witnesses say Kazaz was chased and shot by masked assailants while driving his car. After he had been shot, Kazaz jumped off the pier into the water as a last resort.
Paramedics made unsuccessful resuscitation attempts, and he died as he was being rushed to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
Kazaz is the 104th victim of violence and crime in the Arab sector this year, according to the Abraham Initiatives, an NGO whose goal is to promote equal rights for Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens.
According to Hebrew media, police are seeking a criminal well-known to them for involvement in the killing.