Palestinian authorities cannot drive militants out in the West Bank Camp

Palestinian authorities cannot drive militants out in the West Bank Camp

The refugee camp jenin in occupied West Bank has been shaken by heavy fire battles for more than a week - snipers positioned on roofs and steamed explosions are hallowed by the narrowed streets of the warehouse. It is noteworthy, however, that the Israeli army is not involved in these fights. In the past few years it has led numerous

The Palestinian Authority and its security operation

The PA, which enjoys western support, started its greatest security operation for years to drive away the militant groups in the camp. This measure is intended to demonstrate that the PA is able to control the security Situation in the West Bank, while at the same time striving for control over a future Gaza after a possible war. But the operation only seems to have reinforced the resistance, and many of the approximately 25,000 civilians who live in the warehouse feel increasingly alienated. The progress is limited because the militants still control a large part of the warehouse.

The situation on site

The PA security forces have tried to have dozens of men who describe them as lawless. These men would try to "kidnap" the camp, which was set up for Palestinian refugees after Israel was founded in 1948. Hamas describes the fighters in the warehouse as "resistance" - an association of militant groups that see the PA and its security forces as henchman Israel. The militant factions include the Al-Aqsa Märyrer Brigade, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Qassem Brigades that fight under the Banner of the Jenin Battalion.

growing violence and international reactions

The PA states that its forces have progressed in the warehouse "in very important aspects". However, it does not have the technological means and the armament that the Israeli army can bring in. On Sunday, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard was killed by the fire of the militants. In addition, there were several deaths among the militant leaders and civilians, including three teenagers, the youngest only 14 years old. Each side assigns the other to blame for these deaths.

The increase in violence is another sad highlight of a deadly year in the region. In September, Israel led a multi-day razzia in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas, in which at least 39 people died, according to the health authority of the PA and the United Nations. This number comprises at least nine militants, as shown by public explanations from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

an index for control over gaza

The Palestinian Authority nominal has the security responsibility for large parts of the West Bank in accordance with the Oslo Agreement, which were signed in the 1990s, to establish a Palestinian state. In the years after, however, Israel expanded its control over the occupied territory, founded settlements and carried out frequent raids against militant Palestinian groups. Should the PA take on a broader role in the administration of Palestinian areas or strive for a return to Gaza - which the Israeli government has consistently excluded - so is Jenin the indicator.

one of the militant commanders, Qais al-Sa’di, commented in an interview with CNN: "Israel gives the authority in Jenin a chance and basically says: 'If you can prove that you can control Jenin, a small city, then we will consider gaza to hand over

Iran's influence and gun smuggling

The events in Jenin are also an indicator of Iran's influence among the militants. Al-Sa’di admitted that help comes from Iran, which is increasingly worried about Israeli security services. "We receive support from Iran and from everyone who wants to help us, but we do not belong to Iran or some external unity outside of Palestine," said his statement.

to what extent and in which form of Iran the militants supports is difficult to assess. But in November the Israeli security forces reported on large quantities of Iraqi weapons that were secured near Jenin. The Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said during a visit to the West Bank that "Iran will be unsuccessful to establish an Iranian 'octopus arm' in the refugee camps", and a new border with Jordan would "prevent Iranian plans to smuggle in the gun in Israel".

consequences for the civilian population

The Jenin battalion has established itself in the camp and forms the nerve center of a new wave of Palestinian militia in the occupied areas. The increasing use of improvised explosives (IED) by the militant group has complicated the efforts of Israel and PA to combat the militants. Qais al-Sa’di explained that IEd have caused considerable damage to Israeli military vehicles and warned the security forces: "If you come to our area, you will be the same."

The security forces in turn claim that militant innocent lives endanger by placing explosive material in the streets and in residential areas. The confrontation in Jenin has split the Palestinian opinion. The 27-year-old fighter Assad Assad Aqel, who was seriously injured in an Israeli drone attack last year, emphasized that people needed protection against the Israeli army in the warehouse-a protection that is not guaranteed by the Palestinian Authority.

Some residents of the camp expressed that the security operation of the PA had made life significantly more difficult - and made dangerous. They described them as collective punishment. By the end of last week, a large part of the warehouse was without water and electricity, the garbage stacked, and many children could not go to school.

Unrwa and the use of humanitarian aid

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, Unrwa, said last week that they were their Services hired , among other things, education and health care during the fight. The agency condemned the in Jenin-Lager "Palestinian armed actors" last week.