In the face of rising violence and displacement in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority is carrying out significant security operations in Jenin to assert its governance, despite the risks of local backlash.
Palestinian Authority Intensifies Security Operations Amid Israeli Military Actions in West Bank
Palestinian Authority Intensifies Security Operations Amid Israeli Military Actions in West Bank
The Palestinian Authority escalates security operations in Jenin, aiming to combat militant threats while navigating tensions with Israel and local sentiments.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) is engaged in one of its most extensive security operations to date, targeting armed militants in the West Bank city of Jenin. Over the past several weeks, PA security forces have methodically advanced on the militants' stronghold, despite an Israeli military assault in the area. Palestinian officials indicate that the PA has managed to maintain its campaign, even as dozens of militants evaded arrest by escaping to surrounding villages.
Brig. Gen. Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for the PA's security apparatus, emphasized in a recent interview the positive strides made in re-establishing law and order amidst escalating violence. Historically, the PA has deferred much of the responsibility for security in the Israeli-occupied West Bank to Israel. However, with growing doubts about its capability to manage governance and security in Gaza, the PA leadership seems motivated to demonstrate its willingness to confront militants, even if such actions provoke discontent among Palestinians who see the authority as complicit in a broader destructive campaign.
The Jenin camp, primarily populated by refugees since the 1948 Israeli-Arab war, has evolved into a stronghold for Iran-backed militant groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These factions have increasingly sophisticated weapons, including explosives and M16 rifles smuggled from Israel. Following Hamas's brazen attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which marked the onset of renewed conflict in Gaza, Israel has executed numerous military operations in the West Bank, including airstrikes that have resulted in civilian casualties. In response, the PA has largely aimed to avoid direct confrontation with these militant factions, encouraging their surrender instead.
