In late July 2024, popular unrest directed towards the Palestinian Authority erupted in various areas of the West Bank. The unrest marks a significant escalation of violence between West Bank militant factions and protestors against the Palestinian Authority[2] amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and its spillover into the West Bank.
| July 2024 West Bank unrest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 26 July 2024 – present | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by |
| ||
| Methods |
| ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | Unknown | ||
| Arrested | At least 3 | ||
The unrest began in Tulkarm, on 26 July, after the Palestinian Authority's security forces encircled the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, allegedly attempting to arrest Mohammed Jaber aka "Abu Shujaa", the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade who was hospitalized inside. Clashes broke out between Palestinian militants and security forces in the area while a crowd of civilian protestors attempted to obstruct the alleged arrest operation at the hospital. The situation ended with the security forces withdrawing from the hospital.[3]
Following the events in Tulkarm, militants and protestors began clashing with security forces in Tubas after the attempted arrest of a member of the Tubas Brigade. Rioting also began occurring in Bethlehem, in protest of the Palestinian Authority's actions in Tulkarm.[2][4]
Background
The Palestinian Authority, which sometimes coordinates security with Israel,[5] is deeply unpopular among most Palestinians,[6][7] who lend more support to the various militias present in each West Bank city.[8][9] Clashes between the Palestinian Authority and West Bank militias are typically rare.[5] In recent years, documented brief clashes between the two sides occurred in September 2022,[10] August 2023,[11][12] and May 2024.[5]
Unrest
26 July
Palestinian Authority security forces arrived at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental 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.[13] The Brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire.[14]
The Tulkarm Brigade, together with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 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.[14][13] A large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital in response, determined to obstruct the arrest operation.[14][15] 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.[16] 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.[14]
The Jenin Brigades issued a statement condemning and threatening the security forces, stating "if anyone attacks us, we will attack them in kind".[17]
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.[4]
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.[4]
A protest march also broke out in Bethlehem. Rioters clashed with security forces and set fire to the gates of their local headquarters.[4] It was reported that the security forces beat and arrested a boy who was protesting.[18]
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.[19] After the deadline passed, the Brigade targeted the government headquarters in Tulkarm with explosives.[20]
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.
- ^ "Palestinian crowd stops PA security forces' arrest of Tulkarm Battalion commander". Middle East Monitor. 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "آخرهم أبو شجاع.. قصص السلطة مع مقاومين تطاردهم إسرائيل". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ "Poll: 72% of Palestinians support terror groups like Lions' Den". JNS. 2022-12-14.
- ^ Khdour, Dr Ameneh Mehvar, Nasser (2023-12-14). "The Resurgence of Armed Groups in the West Bank and Their Connections to Gaza". ACLED. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Tahhan, Zena Al. "Clashes with Palestinian security forces in Nablus leave one dead". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Armed clashes erupt overnight between PA forces and terror group fighters in Jenin". The Times of Israel. 2 August 2023.
- ^ "One killed as Palestinian forces clash with West Bank resistance fighters". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b "Palestinian security forces surround brigades at Tulkarm hospital". Roya News. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b c d "Palestinian crowd stops PA security forces' arrest of Tulkarm Battalion commander". Middle East Monitor. 27 July 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.