(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has launched a military operation, named "Defense of the Homeland," targeting armed groups from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in northern Samaria, particularly within the Jenin refugee camp. The operation is framed by Abbas as a campaign against lawlessness. During the operation so far, PA security forces reportedly killed two prominent armed militants, including Yazid Ja'isa, the commander of Islamic Jihad's "Jenin Battalion." PA officials claim they intend to take full control of the Jenin refugee camp and expand operations to combat armed factions in Nablus and Tulkarm. The PA blames Hamas for bringing disaster upon Gaza on October 7, 2023, and for attempting to destabilize the West Bank. Israeli security officials remain unconvinced of the PA's ability to neutralize terrorist networks in northern Samaria. Current estimates suggest there are several hundred armed militants in the camps and approximately 1,000 in the surrounding areas. For now, the PA's efforts seem to be as much about optics and survival as they are about substantive change.
2024-12-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive