UNRWA suspends services in Jenin refugee camp
Philippe Larrazini, the head of UNRWA, said his agency was forced to make the decision for another day due to continued “violent clashes” between Palestinian security forces and armed groups in the occupied West Bank refugee camp.
“Children remain out of school & camp residents are unable to access primary healthcare & other critical services,” he wrote on X. The rising tensions are undermining the “fragile stability” in the occupied West Bank, he said.
“For far too long, residents of Jenin and Jenin Camp have been subject to a cycle of violence & destruction, rendering the camp nearly uninhabitable. It is time to break that cycle & ensure that normal life resumes,” he added.
The days-long clashes came after the Palestinian Authority (PA), which partially governs the occupied West Bank, began what it called a security operation to restore law and order in Jenin’s refugee camp. The area is a stronghold of Palestinian fighters who are alienated from the PA.
What’s happening in Jenin?
As we’ve been reporting, Palestinian Authority (PA) forces have raided the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, killing at least two people during exchanges of gunfire with fighters there.
- The PA’s campaign came after it accused the Jenin Brigades of stealing Palestinian security vehicles and detonating a car in Jenin.
- The PA’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Anwar Rajab, said the operation, called “Protect the Homeland”, was launched to “eradicate sedition and chaos” in the camp.
- PA forces killed 19-year-old Rahbi Shalabi during the clashes as well as Jenin Brigades commander Yazid Ja’ayseh.
- The fighters are defiant, with Nour Al-Bitawi, a spokesman for the Jenin Brigades, saying: “The subject isn’t cars or the camp, but rather an attempt to end the patriotism and resistance in the camp.”
- The PA has meanwhile ruled out dialogue, saying the operation will continue until it achieves its goals – “regaining safety and recovering the Jenin camp from lawless elements who have hijacked the camp and created a situation of insecurity there”.
Palestinian residents there note that the city of Jenin and its refugee camp have been the epicentre of Israeli military aggression for two years, and have suffered widescale destruction and dozens of casualties.
They say the infighting among Palestinians is the last thing this battered city needed
“We’re afraid this infighting could spiral out of control,” said resident Fadi Washahi. “This is not in our interest. We are all targets of the Israeli enemy, which is rejoicing at our infighting.”
Jenin fighters refuse to surrender weapons
We’ve spoken to a Jenin Brigades fighter on the clashes there. In an exclusive interview, the spokesman said his armed group was the only thing keeping Palestinians safe from the violence of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
“Our compass is clear; only against the occupation and nothing else. Our message is clear to everyone, for God’s sake, just let us be. We want to fight the Israelis,” he said.
He said the PA’s forces have attempted to enter the camp multiple times, and have assassinated Jenin Brigades commander Yazid Ja’ayseh, a man the Israelis have pursued for four years but could not capture.
The spokesman said the Jenin Brigades would not surrender their weapons.
“Let’s say that I have surrendered. What if a settler enters my house, what could I do?” he asked. “How could I surrender? Evict the Israelis from our country and my rifle is yours. I would be yours to execute. Evict the Israelis from the country and you may execute me.”
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