In a significant shift of strategy, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is undertaking one of the largest security operations in its history, targeting armed militant groups in the West Bank city of Jenin. This move comes in the context of escalating violence and tensions following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which marked the beginning of the current war in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority's Security Operations Amidst West Bank Displacement
Palestinian Authority's Security Operations Amidst West Bank Displacement
The Palestinian Authority intensifies operations in Jenin to tackle militancy, despite the risk of public backlash and displacement of local residents.
For weeks, PA forces have gradually encroached on Jenin, an area known as a stronghold for armed groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which have recently become increasingly sophisticated in their operations. Initially, it was anticipated that PA efforts would wane in the face of Israeli raids, yet they persisted even when Israeli forces conducted extensive operations in the area.
Brig. Gen. Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for the PA's security forces, stated that significant progress is being made in reinforcing law and order, as security forces apprehend militants attempting to escape to neighboring villages. This represents a marked departure from the previous approach of allowing Israel to take the frontline against militancy, raising questions about the PA's capacity to assume responsibility for security in Gaza as well.
However, the PA's actions have prompted mixed responses. While some view their efforts as a necessary step to reclaim control and demonstrate governance, others criticize them for collaborating with Israeli operations that have resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands and destruction of neighborhoods.
As Jenin faces increasing pressure, and with militants often engaging in armed confrontations against Israeli forces, the PA is keen to assert its role in regional security—despite the complex and often dangerous landscape that accompanies it. The ongoing struggles reveal the deep interconnections of power, governance, and the urgent humanitarian issues facing Palestinians in the West Bank.
Brig. Gen. Anwar Rajab, spokesperson for the PA's security forces, stated that significant progress is being made in reinforcing law and order, as security forces apprehend militants attempting to escape to neighboring villages. This represents a marked departure from the previous approach of allowing Israel to take the frontline against militancy, raising questions about the PA's capacity to assume responsibility for security in Gaza as well.
However, the PA's actions have prompted mixed responses. While some view their efforts as a necessary step to reclaim control and demonstrate governance, others criticize them for collaborating with Israeli operations that have resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands and destruction of neighborhoods.
As Jenin faces increasing pressure, and with militants often engaging in armed confrontations against Israeli forces, the PA is keen to assert its role in regional security—despite the complex and often dangerous landscape that accompanies it. The ongoing struggles reveal the deep interconnections of power, governance, and the urgent humanitarian issues facing Palestinians in the West Bank.
