Ajami

Nasri's neighbor is killed in a drive-by targeting Omar, who had sold the victim his car. The attack springs from a feud rooted in Nasri's uncle paralyzing a Bedouin clan member who sought to extort him. This violent spark sets the tone for Ajami's interwoven stories.

Out of fear for their safety during the escalating feud, Nasri and his sister are sent to Jerusalem. Omar, their mother, and their grandfather stay behind in Jaffa to face the consequences. The separation deepens the characters' precarious balance between danger and safety.

Omar seeks help from Abu Elias to broker a ceasefire, and the arrangement includes a costly peace settlement. The settlement requires Omar to pay a hefty sum, creating a financial pressure that shadows every choice. The negotiations show how violence spills into money and obligation.

With the settlement looming, Omar contemplates fleeing to escape the consequences of the feud. He ultimately decides to stay, feeling trapped by debts, loyalties, and the weight of his family's safety. The choice keeps the family in Ajami's dangerous cycle.

In Nablus, Malek works at Abu Elias's restaurant to fund his mother's surgery, illustrating how personal crises fuel the region's struggles. Omar and Malek discuss the possibility of turning to drugs to raise money quickly. Their conversation foreshadows the drug trade that threads through the film.

Binj, a local drug dealer, is introduced as a pivotal contact in the drug world. He becomes a link between Malek's ambitions and Omar's circle, stirring tension among friends. Binj is later murdered by unknown assailants, adding a new layer of danger.

After Binj's murder, Omar and Malek return to Binj's apartment to recover his stash of drugs to sell to a buyer. Their plan soon spirals into chaos when buyers attack during the attempted sale. This incident demonstrates how quickly violence spirals from deals gone wrong.

In Ajami, a Jewish man clashes with Arab neighbors over noisy sheep, ending in a fatal stabbing. Israeli officer Dan, known as Dando, responds to the scene and begins searching for his missing brother Yoni, an IDF soldier. The investigation introduces Dando's personal stake that will echo through the other stories.

Binj's brother is linked to the earlier stabbing, and police question Binj and his father before releasing them. The investigation tightens the net around Binj's family. Binj reluctantly agrees to hold a package of cocaine for his brother, a decision that will pull the group into the broader drug trade.

Binj hides most of the cocaine during a gathering, swapping the rest for powdered sugar. He overdoses on the remaining cocaine, unseen by Omar who will later unknowingly take the fake package. The counterfeit drug becomes a dangerous anchor in the later sting.

Omar and Malek set out to complete the drug sale, with Nasri insisting on coming along to support his brother. Malek advises Omar to leave the gun in the car, highlighting how fear leads to risky decisions. The buyers turn out to be police conducting a sting operation, and Dando is among the officers.

During the sting, Dando mistakes Malek's pocket watch for Yoni's and becomes enraged, attacking Malek. Nasri intervenes but is fatally shot by another officer, leaving Omar to flee in terror. The film closes with Omar running for his life and Nasri's fate left uncertain as the car disappears from view.