The Shin Bet and the Jerusalem District’s Central Unit of the police announced this morning (Tuesday) that they have solved the murder of the prisons officer Yohai Avrahami, z"l, which occurred about a month ago in the settlement of Givon HaChadasha. With the conclusion of the investigation, a prosecution statement was filed against the suspect, and an indictment is expected to be filed by the military prosecution in the coming days.
The investigation began after Yohai, who served in the Israel Prison Service, was found dead with multiple stab wounds at his home in Givon HaChadasha, near Jerusalem, about a month and a half ago. Emergency services and police forces from the Jerusalem district were summoned to the scene. Following the incident, a joint investigation team from the Central Unit of the Jerusalem Police and the Shin Bet was established.
After initial investigative actions on the same day, Jerusalem police and Shin Bet investigators were able to trace the identity of the murder suspect. Two days after Yohai was found, the murder suspect Ibrahim Mansour, a 22-year-old Palestinian from the village of Bidu, was arrested by officers from the Israel Police's "Gadna" unit (33) with the assistance of IDF forces. Following his arrest, the suspect was transferred for joint interrogation by the Shin Bet and the Jerusalem Central Unit.
Stabbed Multiple Times, Burned the House, and Fled:
The police and Shin Bet investigation revealed that on the night of July 7, the suspect entered Givon HaChadasha without the necessary permits to stay in Israel. After entering the settlement, the suspect attempted to break into several homes without success. He then broke into the house rented by Yohai, entering through a window while the victim was asleep. A physical struggle ensued between Yohai and the murderer, during which the suspect used a sharp object to stab Yohai multiple times until he collapsed on the floor. The suspect then used a larger knife taken from the kitchen to stab Yohai again, and as Yohai lay dying in the apartment, he delivered a fatal stab wound to his neck, killing him.
Following the brutal murder, the perpetrator stole several items from the apartment and fled the scene. Before leaving, he set the apartment on fire, which was extinguished on its own shortly after. The murderer then fled to Judea and Samaria, burning the stolen items on his way home.
Police Denied Reports: "No Connection to Yohai’s Workplace"
As part of the investigation by the Jerusalem Central Unit and the Shin Bet, two additional suspects, relatives of the murderer, were arrested. However, according to the police, their interrogation ruled out their involvement in the brutal murder, which was committed solely by the perpetrator. The police also noted that, contrary to reports, the investigation did not uncover any information suggesting a connection between Yohai’s workplace in the Israel Prison Service and the murder or any prior acquaintance between them.
The murder suspect's detention has been periodically extended by the military court. Recently, the investigation by the Jerusalem Central Unit and the Shin Bet was completed, and an evidentiary basis against the murderer was established. Following the conclusion of the investigation, a prosecution statement was filed against the suspect today, and his detention was extended by another eight days. The military prosecution is expected to file an indictment against him in the coming days.