Militants Clash with Palestinian Authority in Expansive Refugee Camp, Opening a New Front in the Middle East

The Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has become the site of intense violence, as militant groups and Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces clash in a growing conflict that is reshaping the dynamics of Palestinian internal politics. For over a week, heavy gunfire, explosions, and the sound of sniper fire have echoed through the camp’s narrow alleys and on its rooftops. Despite the constant gunfire, the Israeli military has not been involved, marking a distinct shift from previous confrontations in the area, which often saw Israeli forces raiding the camp in an effort to target Palestinian militants.

Instead, the current conflict is a Palestinian affair, with the PA security forces engaged in an operation aimed at dismantling militant groups that are aligned with Hamas. These groups, which view the PA as a collaborator with Israel, have been entrenched in the camp for years and reject the authority’s approach to governance and security. The PA, which receives Western support, launched this operation to show it could maintain order in the West Bank while also demonstrating its ability to control the situation in the wake of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This security operation is also seen as a way for the PA to bolster its credibility, especially as it looks to secure control over Gaza in a potential post-conflict scenario.

However, the PA’s actions have sparked widespread resistance and criticism from both militants and civilians within the camp. The operation, which has involved attempts to arrest individuals the PA describes as “outlaws” seeking to take control of the camp, has largely failed to make significant headway. The camp, which was originally established for Palestinians displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, is now a densely populated area of roughly 25,000 residents. Over the years, it has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance, and many of its residents are hostile toward the PA’s attempts to assert control over them.

The armed factions within Jenin, including the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Qassem Brigades, have banded together to form a militant coalition known as the Jenin Battalion. These groups, which operate under the banner of Hamas, view the PA’s security forces as traitors working on behalf of Israel. They have branded themselves as the true resistance, fighting to uphold Palestinian rights against both Israeli occupation and what they see as the PA’s betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

The PA’s security forces have clashed repeatedly with these militant groups, leading to multiple casualties on both sides. Despite the PA’s claims of making significant progress, such as taking control of certain areas within the camp, militants continue to hold significant sway, with much of the camp still under their control. The PA’s security forces, although better organized than in previous years, are far less equipped than the Israeli military and lack the technological advantages that could help them decisively end the standoff. Furthermore, the civilian population in the camp, many of whom are caught in the crossfire, has increasingly become alienated from the PA’s actions, seeing them as part of the problem rather than the solution.

Recent clashes have resulted in several deaths, including that of a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard and a member of the Palestinian Security Forces. Additionally, three teenagers, the youngest of whom was just 14, were killed during the violence. Both the militants and the PA blame each other for these deaths, further inflaming tensions. Meanwhile, the larger context of this conflict adds to the already high level of animosity in the area. In September, Israel conducted a deadly raid in Jenin and other northern West Bank areas, killing at least 39 people and destroying significant infrastructure. The raids and their aftermath have contributed to the growing instability, as militants continue to push back against both Israeli and PA authority.

The ongoing battle in Jenin reveals the deepening fractures within Palestinian politics. While the PA is attempting to restore order and maintain security in the West Bank, its actions are increasingly viewed as collaborating with Israel, especially by the growing number of militant groups in the region. The situation in Jenin, which has long been a center of Palestinian defiance, is now a symbol of the larger struggle between those who support the PA and those who oppose its approach to governance. As the fighting continues, the fate of the camp and its people remains uncertain, with both sides preparing for a long and bloody struggle.