BICOM

A gag order was partially lifted yesterday on the case against Nashat Milhem, who is thought to have carried out Friday’s shooting attack at a central Tel Aviv bar.

Milhem opened fire at the Simta bar on Dizengoff Street, near the corner of Gordon St but fled the scene and has since evaded capture despite a huge manhunt. 26-year-old Alon Bakal and 30-year-old Shimon Ruimi were killed in the attack. Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that a third person, taxi driver Amin Shaaban, who was found dead soon after the shooting, is also thought to have been killed by Milhem.

In another development, it has been widely reported by Maariv, Channel Two and elsewhere that security officials believe Milhem has now reached the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank. If so, his eventual capture will become the responsibility of the Shin Bet security service, rather than Israel’s police force, which has been criticised in some quarters of the Israeli media for its failure to apprehend Milhem. The new Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh yesterday carried out a reshuffle at the top echelons of the force, with two new major-generals joining from the IDF and the Shin Bet.

Meanwhile, Milhem’s brother Jawadat, who was arrested soon after the shooting, was released from custody yesterday. He called on his brother to turn himself in and said that the family was not complicit in the attack. Nonetheless, earlier this week, their father was arrested and taken for questioning.

Yesterday, the Simta Bar reopened just days after Friday’s shooting. A memorial ceremony took place and no music was played during the evening. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai was among those to attend the re-opening. He told Maariv, “The pain and trauma that we bear in our hearts is part of daily life in this country,” but that nonetheless “we will continue to live” daily lives.