Four people were murdered on Thursday in a fire that broke out in a shop in Ramla as a result of a vehicle explosion.

The murder victims were identified as a 50-year-old woman, her two children ages five and ten, and a relative aged 15. The murdered woman's one-month-old son was critically injured and is hospitalized at the Shamir Medical Center.

Eight additional bystanders suffered injuries of varying degrees, including five who were moderately hurt.

According to initial information, many of the injured ran to the shop after the explosion to hide but it caught fire.

According to the police, the explosion was a result of a criminal dispute between Arab crime families in the city.

Central Police District commander Avi Biton assessed the situation at the scene as rescue teams continued to search for people trapped in nearby stores.

Explosives experts are examining the reason for the explosion.

Overnight, Hani al-'Afifi, a 40-year-old man, was shot to death in the city. Hours later, Tani Abu Diyah, aged 40, was murdered.