Early history The predecessor of the NSF was the PLO's
Palestine Liberation Army. When the NSF were formed, most personnel was recruited from the PLA. Gradually, local recruits were added. From the late 1990s, the CIA played the central role in building up PA security forces, in close co-operation with the Israeli military and intelligence. After the killing of three US officials in the Gaza Strip in 2003, British forces played an increasingly active role.
Second Intifada The Palestinian
Preventive Security Force played a significant role during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. It participated in major operations such as
Operation Defensive Shield. They also took part in battles such as the
Battle of Jenin and the
Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
2005 restructuring plan According to
The Guardian, based on the
Palestine Papers, in 2003, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair approved a plan of the Secret Intelligence Service
MI6 for a US-led
"counter-insurgency surge" against Hamas. In March 2005, a secret British
"Palestinian Security Plan" was presented with detailed proposals for a new security taskforce, based on "trusted PA contacts" outside the control of "traditional security chiefs", a British/US security "verification team", and "direct lines" to Israeli intelligence. The document notes that Israel was not content with the functioning of the NSF and opposed enhancement of the organisation with munitions and surveillance equipment. In a "subtle approach", the “old guard” could be retired with honour, "with subtle timing, once the decisions are made and the new structures are emerging" ... "The Israeli occupation has totally destroyed the capability of the NSF itself [in the West Bank] and inflicted significant damage on its infrastructure. NSF personnel are not permitted to bear arms or to move between areas in uniforms ... The NSF, being unarmed, are in no position to confront the militants."
2007 Fatah–Hamas conflict During the year 2007,
Fatah and
Hamas, two of the main political parties in Palestine, were having confrontations in Gaza. As part of the
Fatah–Hamas conflict, Fatah deployed the Palestinian Security Forces to confront the Hamas paramilitary forces in Northern Gaza. The confrontation led to the collapse of the Preventive Security Forces headquarters. The surprising Hamas victory led to the withdrawal of Fatah forces from Gaza.
2014 Italian–Palestinian training programme By virtue of a bilateral agreement signed between the Italian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior of the Palestinian Authority, the
Carabinieri became a partner in the technical and professional training of Palestinian security forces and, for this reason, on 19 March 2014, Carabinieri instructors left Italy for
Jericho, where is situated the General Training Centre.
2022–present conflict with militias PA security forces have clashed with
local Palestinian militias in the West Bank, seen as the common enemy of both the PA and Israel. Cooperation between the PA security forces and the IDF is reflected by the fact that the former have simply remained in their barracks during IDF raids, and have actively interfered with militants' defenses against those raids. During the
Gaza war, the rate of clashes has increased. The
July 2024 West Bank unrest directed against the Palestinian Authority was a major escalation in the conflict, sparked by the
alleged arrest attempt of "Abu Shujaa", the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade, on 26 July. The PA also launched notable operations
into Tubas in October 2024 and
into Jenin in December 2024. == Commanders ==