July 2024 West Bank unrest

The Palestinian Authority, which sometimes coordinates security with Israel, is deeply unpopular among most Palestinians, who largely view it as ineffective and subjugated to the Israeli occupation and instead lend more support to the various militias present in each West Bank city. 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. The Tulkarm Brigade is one of the many armed Palestinian militant groups present in the West Bank. The leader of the brigade, Mohammed Jaber, better known by his nom de guerre "Abu Shujaa", is a key figure wanted by the Israeli authorities and had been injured by previous Israeli raids on Tulkarm in December 2023. He was thought to have been killed by the Israeli Defense Forces during one of their raids into Tulkarm in April 2024, but later resurfaced attending a funeral for multiple slain Palestinian fighters. == Course of the unrest ==

Tulkarm On July 26, 2024, Abu Shujaa was hospitalized at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm after suffering an injury from an explosive device. Soon after, the security forces of the Palestinian Authority encircled the hospital and allegedly tried to arrest Shujaa as part of the crackdown on local militias. In response, the brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire. Soon after, a large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital to obstruct the PA's arrest operation. As a result, clashes between the security forces and West Bank militias broke out in Tulkarm as a crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital aiming to break the alleged siege. 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. 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. After the deadline passed, the Brigade targeted the government headquarters in Tulkarm with explosives. Spread to other cities Jenin The Jenin Brigades issued a statement condemning and threatening the security forces, stating "if anyone attacks us, we will attack them in kind". Tubas 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. 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. There was also infighting within the security forces, with several personnel arrested, a move sharply criticized by the local Fatah politicians. On the 30th, 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. On the 31st, security forces attempted to arrest militants and were met with protests outside their local headquarters. == Aftermath ==

By August, the unrest had been "contained", according to Tulkarm officials. On 15 August, Hamas condemned the Palestinian Authority for constantly targeting militants, confiscating weapons, dismantling explosives, and interfering with ambushes during Israeli incursions. == Reactions ==

Mustafa Taqataqa, the governor of Tulkarm Governorate, alleged that the security forces intervened only after "a group of individuals" attempted to storm the hospital, and called for all health institutions to be kept out of conflicts. Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad condemned the actions of the security forces, with the latter warning that it threatened the recent unity agreements of the 2024 Beijing Declaration. The Jenin Brigades also condemned the security forces while threatening to retaliate if attacked. The brigade claimed that the security forces had previously attempted a similar siege on a hospital in Jenin during which they assaulted mothers of slain Palestinian fighters. == See also ==