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In late July 2024, a significant escalation of violence[2] between the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian militants and protestors erupted in various areas in the West Bank. The unrest began after Palestinian Authority security forces encircled a Tulkarm hospital on 26 July and allegedly attempted to arrest the militant leader Abu Shujaa, who was hospitalized inside.[3]
| July 2024 West Bank unrest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Palestinian Authority–West Bank militias conflict and the West Bank spillover of the Israel-Hamas war | |||
| Date | 26–31 July 2024 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by |
| ||
| Methods |
| ||
| Resulted in | Inconclusive outcome
| ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | Unknown | ||
| Arrested | At least 3 | ||
The Palestinian Authority, which sometimes coordinates security with Israel,[4] is deeply unpopular among most Palestinians,[5][6] who largely view it as ineffective and subjugated to the Israeli occupation[7][8] and instead lend more support to the various militias present in each West Bank city.[9][10] 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 Israel-Hamas war and the related Israeli incursions into the West Bank.
26 July
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.[11][12] 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.[12] The Brigade and other Palestinian militias declared a state of high alert, and targeted the local headquarters of the security forces with heavy gunfire.[3]
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.[3][12][13] A large crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital in response, determined to obstruct the arrest operation.[3][14] 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.[15] 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.[3]
The Jenin Brigades issued a statement condemning and threatening the security forces, stating "if anyone attacks us, we will attack them in kind".[16] Gunmen from the Brigades attacked the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Jenin.[17][18][19]
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.[20]
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.[20]
A protest march also broke out in Bethlehem against the Palestinian Authority's actions in Tulkarm.[2][20] Protestors clashed with security forces and set fire to the gates of their local headquarters.[20]
28 July
In Bethlehem, it was reported that the security forces beat and arrested a boy who was protesting.[21]
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.[22] After the deadline passed, the Brigade targeted the government headquarters in Tulkarm with explosives.[23]
30 July
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.[24]
31 July
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.[8]
By August, the unrest had been "contained", according to Tulkarm officials.[17]
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.[25]
On 15 August, Hamas condemned the Palestinian Authority for constantly targeting militants, confiscating weapons, dismantling explosives, and interfering with ambushes during Israeli incursions.[26][27]
Other sporadic clashes between militants and security forces have broken out since August.
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