July 2024 West Bank unrest

The Palestinian Authority, which sometimes coordinates security with Israel,{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Palestinian security force kills Islamic Jihad gunman in rare internal clash |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-security-force-kills-islamic-jihad-gunman-in-rare-internal-clash/#:~:text=A%20local%20armed%20group%2C%20the,brigades%20said%20in%20a%20statement. |website=The Times of Israel}} is deeply unpopular among most Palestinians,{{Cite web |last=Ackerman |first=Daniel |date=2024-03-06 |title=10 Things to Know About the Palestinian Authority |url=https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/03/06/10-things-to-know-about-the-palestinian-authority/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=FDD |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=28 February 2024 |title=The Palestinian Authority is promising change. Many Palestinians say it's not enough |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/28/1234242951/palestinian-authority-resignation-gaza-west-bank |website=NPR}} who largely view it as ineffective and subjugated to the Israeli occupation{{Cite web |title=Who Governs the Palestinians? {{!}} Council on Foreign Relations |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/who-governs-palestinians |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.cfr.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=ثورة الضفة تعلن موت السلطة |url=https://shahed.cc/news/73541/%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b6%d9%81%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%86-%d9%85%d9%88%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%a9 |access-date=2024-07-31 |language=ar}} and instead lend more support to the various militias present in each West Bank city.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=Poll: 72% of Palestinians support terror groups like Lions’ Den |url=https://www.jns.org/poll-72-of-palestinian-public-supports-terror-groups-like-lions-den/ |website=JNS}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=The Resurgence of Armed Groups in the West Bank and Their Connections to Gaza |url=https://acleddata.com/2023/12/14/the-resurgence-of-armed-groups-in-the-west-bank-and-their-connections-to-gaza/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=ACLED |language=en-US}} 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 Gaza war and the related Israeli incursions into the West Bank.

{{See also|26 July 2024 Tulkarm confrontations}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Tulkarm Governor clarifies incident between Palestinian security forces and resistance |url=https://en.royanews.tv/news/53085 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Roya News |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Palestinian security forces surround brigades at Tulkarm hospital |url=https://en.royanews.tv/news/53082 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Roya News |language=en}} The Brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire.

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.{{Cite web |title=شاهد.. استقبال حافل "لأبو شجاع" بعد فك الحصار عنه |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/7/26/%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%87%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%81%d9%84-%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%a8%d9%88-%d8%b4%d8%ac%d8%a7%d8%b9-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af-%d9%81%d9%83 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}} A large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital in response, determined to obstruct the arrest operation.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Hamas: PA apparatus behavior in pursuing resisters has reached its most dangerous stage |url=https://www.saba.ye/en/news3352874.htm |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=www.saba.ye |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-07-26 |title=In Dramatic Scene - Palestinians Free Fighter Besieged by PA Police in West Bank (VIDEOS) |url=https://www.palestinechronicle.com/in-dramatic-scene-palestinians-free-fighter-besieged-by-pa-police-in-west-bank-videos/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Palestine Chronicle |language=en-US}} 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.

The Jenin Brigades issued a statement condemning and threatening the security forces, stating "if anyone attacks us, we will attack them in kind".{{Cite web |date=27 July 2024 |title=Palestinian fighters threaten PA security services after Tulkarm hospital incident |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinian-fighters-threaten-pa-forces-after-hospital-incident |website=The New Arab}} Gunmen from the Brigades attacked the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Jenin.{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Jonathan |date=2024-08-14 |title=In Jenin and Tulkarem, Israel’s war on Palestinian armed resistance is failing |url=https://www.972mag.com/jenin-tulkarem-armed-resistance-israeli-repression/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=+972 Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=بعد محاصرته من الأجهزة الأمنية.. أهالي طولكرم يحررون القيادي أبو شجاع |url=https://www.alaraby.com/news/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%85-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%B4%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B9 |website=Al Araby}}{{Cite web |last=Khoury |first=Jack |date=26 July 2024 |title=Palestinian Authority Fails to Arrest Top Islamic Jihad Official in West Bank |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2024-07-26/ty-article/.premium/palestinian-authority-fails-to-arrest-top-islamic-jihad-official-in-west-bank/00000190-ef74-d8b8-a59a-effe15950000 |website=Haaretz}}

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.{{Cite web |title=آخرهم أبو شجاع.. قصص السلطة مع مقاومين تطاردهم إسرائيل |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/7/27/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%b5%d9%8a%d9%84-%d9%83%d8%a7%d9%85%d9%84%d8%a9-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%82%d8%b5%d8%a9-%d9%81%d9%83-%d8%ad%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%b1 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}}

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.

A protest march also broke out in Bethlehem against the Palestinian Authority's actions in Tulkarm. Protestors clashed with security forces and set fire to the gates of their local headquarters.

In Bethlehem, it was reported that the security forces beat and arrested a boy who was protesting.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-28 |title=أمن السلطة يقمع مسيرة ببيت لحم ضد ملاحقة مقاومي الضفة |url=https://shahed.cc/news/73404/%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%a9-%d9%8a%d9%82%d9%85%d8%b9-%d9%85%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%85-%d8%b6%d8%af-%d9%85%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%82%d8%a9-%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%85%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b6%d9%81%d8%a9 |access-date=2024-07-29 |language=ar}}

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.{{Cite web |title=شبكة قدس الإخبارية {{!}} كتيبة طولكرم تمهل السلطة الفلسطينية للإفراج عن أحد مقاوميها |url=https://nabd.com/s/140737061-53fe13/%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%85%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=موقع نبض}} After the deadline passed, the Brigade targeted the government headquarters in Tulkarm with explosives.{{Cite web |date=29 July 2024 |title=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. |url=https://mouraselnews.com/80461 |website=Mourasel News}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=اشتباكات عنيفة بين فتح بيت لحم وأمن السلطة والإقليم يهدد بالاستقالة |url=https://shahed.cc/news/73489/%d8%a7%d8%b4%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%81%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%ad-%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%85-%d9%88%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%a9-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d9%82%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%85-%d9%8a%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a9 |access-date=2024-07-30 |language=ar}}

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.

By August, the unrest had been "contained", according to Tulkarm officials.

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-03 |title=تحريض ودعوة للحرب الأهلية.. هيئة التوجيه في الخليل تدعو عناصر الأمن لقتل المقاومين |url=https://shahed.cc/news/73663/%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b6-%d9%88%d8%af%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%a9-%d9%84%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%87%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%ac%d9%8a%d9%87-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ae%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%84-%d8%aa%d8%af%d8%b9%d9%88-%d8%b9%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86-%d9%84%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%86 |access-date=2024-08-04 |language=ar}}

On 15 August, Hamas condemned the Palestinian Authority for constantly targeting militants, confiscating weapons, dismantling explosives, and interfering with ambushes during Israeli incursions.{{Cite web |title=Hamas blasts PA for blocking attack on Israeli troops in West Bank |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/hamas-blasts-pa-blocking-attack-israeli-troops-west-bank |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pacchiani |first=Gianluca |date=15 August 2024 |title=Hamas blasts PA after its forces allegedly detonated explosive device before it could blow up IDF troops in Jenin |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-blasts-pa-after-its-forces-allegedly-detonated-explosive-device-before-it-could-blow-up-idf-troops-in-jenin/ |website=The Times of Israel}}

• 2024 Palestinian Authority operation in Tubas
• 2024–2025 Palestinian Authority operation in Jenin

{{reflist}}

Category:2024 in Palestine

Category:July 2024 in Asia

Category:West Bank in the Israel–Hamas war

Category:2024 riots

Category:Riots and civil disorder in Palestine

Category:Domestic reactions to the Israel–Hamas war