In late July 2024, a significant escalation of violence[2] between the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian militants and protestors erupted in various areas in the West Bank. The unrest began after Palestinian Authority security forces encircled a Tulkarm hospital on 26 July and allegedly attempted to arrest the militant leader Abu Shujaa, who was hospitalized inside.[3]
| July 2024 West Bank unrest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Palestinian Authority–West Bank militias conflict and the West Bank spillover of the Israel-Hamas war | |||
| Date | 26–31 July 2024 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by |
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| Methods |
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| Resulted in | Inconclusive outcome
| ||
| Parties | |||
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| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | Unknown | ||
| Arrested | At least 3 | ||
Background
The Palestinian Authority, which sometimes coordinates security with Israel,[4] is deeply unpopular among most Palestinians,[5][6] who largely view it as ineffective and subjugated to the Israeli occupation[7][8] and instead lend more support to the various militias present in each West Bank city.[9][10] As a result, there has been an armed conflict between the Palestinian Authority and West Bank militias since 2022, with earlier sporadic clashes occurring before the escalation in July 2024.
The escalation took place amidst the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and the related Israeli incursions into the West Bank.
Unrest
26 July
Mohammed Jaber aka "Abu Shujaa", the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade, was hospitalized at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm on 26 July after being injured by an explosive device.[11][12] Palestinian Authority security forces arrived at the hospital and encircled it after learning of Abu Shujaa's hospitalization, leading to armed clashes between the Tulkarm Brigade and the security forces in the area.[12] The Brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire.[3]
The Tulkarm Brigade, together with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, issued statements calling for the local population to mobilize and head to the hospital to lift the siege and prevent the arrest of Abu Shujaa.[3][12][13] A large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital in response, determined to obstruct the arrest operation.[3][14] The Palestine Chronicle published a video from inside the hospital showing protestors confronting security forces, which reportedly deployed tear gas and fired on them, resulting in several wounded.[15] Ultimately, the security forces withdrew from the hospital, and the crowd retrieved Abu Shujaa and escorted him to the Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm.[3]
The Jenin Brigades issued a statement condemning and threatening the security forces, stating "if anyone attacks us, we will attack them in kind".[16] Gunmen from the Brigades attacked the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Jenin.[17][18][19]
Hours after the end of the alleged siege in Tulkarm, security forces in Tubas attempted to detain a member of the Tubas Brigade, and shot at him. They detained the militant's brother, who was released after an hour. The Tubas Brigade condemned this as an "assassination attempt" and referred to the security forces as puppets of the Shin Bet.[20]
Later that day, a crowd of young protestors blocked roads in Tubas and began clashing with security forces, chanting slogans against them. The Tubas Brigade targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with gunfire.[20]
A protest march also broke out in Bethlehem against the Palestinian Authority's actions in Tulkarm.[2][20] Protestors clashed with security forces and set fire to the gates of their local headquarters.[20]
28 July
In Bethlehem, it was reported that the security forces beat and arrested a boy who was protesting.[21]
29 July
After the security forces arrested the militant Tariq Balidi, the Tulkarm Brigade demanded that he be released by 10 PM, and accused the Palestinian Authority of wanting to start a civil war. Demonstrations began at the entrance to the Tulkarm refugee camp.[22] After the deadline passed, the Brigade targeted the government headquarters in Tulkarm with explosives.[23]
30 July
Clashes continued between protestors and security forces in Bethlehem. The security forces stormed various homes of local Fatah members as well as those of unidentified "gunmen" in the city, resulting in exchanges of fire. Bethlehemi politicians belonging to Fatah, which is the party that controls the Palestinian Authority, threatened to resign en masse in protest over the actions of the security forces.
There was also infighting within the security forces, with several personnel arrested, a move sharply criticized by the local Fatah politicians. Also, dozens of Fatah-aligned gunmen who apparently defected from the security forces appeared on the streets of Bethlehem and were seen shooting wildly into the air. These gunmen, who began clashing with security forces, threatened Fatah politicians and demanded their resignations.[24]
31 July
Clashes with security forces erupted in Jenin and Nablus. In Bethlehem, security forces attempted to arrest militants and were met with protests outside their local headquarters.[8]
Aftermath
By August, the unrest had been "contained", according to Tulkarm officials.[17]
On 3 August, a political committee in Hebron associated with the security forces was reported to have published a declaration condemning West Bank militants and warning that continued animosity towards the Palestinian Authority could result in a violent internal conflict similar to the 2007 Battle of Gaza between Fatah and Hamas.[25]
On 15 August, Hamas condemned the Palestinian Authority for constantly targeting militants, confiscating weapons, dismantling explosives, and interfering with ambushes during Israeli incursions.[26][27]
Other sporadic clashes between militants and security forces have broken out since August.
References
- ^ "Palestinian crowd stops PA security forces' arrest of Tulkarm Battalion commander". 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b "اشتباكات بين مسلحين وأجهزة أمن السلطة الفلسطينية في الضفة الغربية .. بذور حرب أهلية؟". مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD (in Arabic). 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b c d e "Palestinian crowd stops PA security forces' arrest of Tulkarm Battalion commander". Middle East Monitor. 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Palestinian security force kills Islamic Jihad gunman in rare internal clash". The Times of Israel. 2 May 2024.
- ^ Ackerman, Daniel (2024-03-06). "10 Things to Know About the Palestinian Authority". FDD. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "The Palestinian Authority is promising change. Many Palestinians say it's not enough". NPR. 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Who Governs the Palestinians? | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ a b "ثورة الضفة تعلن موت السلطة" (in Arabic). 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Poll: 72% of Palestinians support terror groups like Lions' Den". JNS. 2022-12-14.
- ^ "The Resurgence of Armed Groups in the West Bank and Their Connections to Gaza". ACLED. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Tulkarm Governor clarifies incident between Palestinian security forces and resistance". Roya News. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b c "Palestinian security forces surround brigades at Tulkarm hospital". Roya News. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "شاهد.. استقبال حافل "لأبو شجاع" بعد فك الحصار عنه". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Hamas: PA apparatus behavior in pursuing resisters has reached its most dangerous stage". www.saba.ye. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ admin (2024-07-26). "In Dramatic Scene - Palestinians Free Fighter Besieged by PA Police in West Bank (VIDEOS)". Palestine Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "Palestinian fighters threaten PA security services after Tulkarm hospital incident". The New Arab. 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b Adler, Jonathan (2024-08-14). "In Jenin and Tulkarem, Israel's war on Palestinian armed resistance is failing". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "بعد محاصرته من الأجهزة الأمنية.. أهالي طولكرم يحررون القيادي أبو شجاع". Al Araby. 26 July 2024.
- ^ Khoury, Jack (26 July 2024). "Palestinian Authority Fails to Arrest Top Islamic Jihad Official in West Bank". Haaretz.
- ^ a b c d "آخرهم أبو شجاع.. قصص السلطة مع مقاومين تطاردهم إسرائيل". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "أمن السلطة يقمع مسيرة ببيت لحم ضد ملاحقة مقاومي الضفة" (in Arabic). 2024-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "شبكة قدس الإخبارية | كتيبة طولكرم تمهل السلطة الفلسطينية للإفراج عن أحد مقاوميها". موقع نبض. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "إلقاء قنابل محلية الصنع تجاه مقر المقاطعة في طولكرم؛ بعد انتهاء مهلة كتيبة مخيم طولكرم للسلطة الفلسطينية بالإفراج عن المطارد طارق البليدي عقب اعتقاله والاستيلاء على سلاحه". Mourasel News. 29 July 2024.
- ^ "اشتباكات عنيفة بين فتح بيت لحم وأمن السلطة والإقليم يهدد بالاستقالة" (in Arabic). 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ "تحريض ودعوة للحرب الأهلية.. هيئة التوجيه في الخليل تدعو عناصر الأمن لقتل المقاومين" (in Arabic). 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Hamas blasts PA for blocking attack on Israeli troops in West Bank". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ Pacchiani, Gianluca (15 August 2024). "Hamas blasts PA after its forces allegedly detonated explosive device before it could blow up IDF troops in Jenin". The Times of Israel.