Palestinian Authority detains 237 security officers amid 18-day Jenin siege

The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Mahmoud Abbas, has detained approximately 237 of its security personnel for refusing to participate in an ongoing military operation targeting Palestinian resistance groups in the Jenin refugee camp according to Mepa News.

• On Sunday, PA security spokesperson Anwar Rajab announced that Saher Faruk Arheel, an officer in the Presidential Guard, was killed in clashes with armed groups.

Why it matters

The siege on Jenin underscores deep tensions between Abbas’s administration and Palestinian resistance groups, as well as internal divisions within the PA’s security forces.

• The operation has drawn scrutiny over its humanitarian toll and broader regional implications.
• Clashes in the camp have resulted in casualties among resistance fighters and civilians, raising concerns from human rights advocates.

Details

• The Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank has been under PA siege for 18 days.
• According to PA sources, Sunday’s confrontation marks the first death among their forces in the ongoing operation.
• The camp has long been considered a stronghold for resistance groups, complicating efforts to assert PA control.

Zoom in

Palestinian and U.S. officials point to two key motivations for the PA’s actions:

1. Sending a signal to the incoming Trump administration, set to take office on Jan. 20, that the PA is a reliable partner.
2. Preventing the escalation of violence in the West Bank to levels seen in Syria.

Zoom out

The operation has regional backing from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, according to Palestinian officials.

• However, the siege has highlighted internal dissent within the PA, as evidenced by the detention of security forces refusing to comply with orders.