The demonstrations against the judicial reform in Israel might be affecting what is happening in the territories of the Palestinian Authority. Terrorists of the Islamic Jihad organization in Jenin held a demonstration against the Palestinian Authority Sunday night in the evening hours, which was also coordinated with a demonstration that took place at the same time in the Gaza Strip.
"This is our hour in the West Bank, in Gaza and everywhere, to go out in rage against the immoral acts against the Palestinian interest," the jihadists wrote in a statement about the protest, adding: "We protest the arrests and kidnappings of the activists by the Palestinian security mechanisms and demand their release."
WHERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA?
— Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) July 17, 2023
According to the Palestinians living in Jenin, the Palestinian Authority has “stormed” the city to make arrests & disrupt Islamic Jihad’s ability to stage attacks.
Israel did the same thing last month and every camera in the region was there… pic.twitter.com/8b3SmwaZmW
These protests come after a large force of Palestinian security forces arrived in Jenin ahead of the demonstration planned by Islamic Jihad. Videos shot by the residents of Jenin were published on social networks, showing a long convoy of vehicles. The PA allowed the demonstration in which chants were also made against it and against Mahmoud 'Abu Mazen' Abbas's use of the Palestinian security forces to arrest Jihad operatives. During the demonstrations, armed men were seen throughout Jenin, calling for the continuation of terrorist acts and violent attacks against Israel.
If true, it is telling that an armed organization has leverage over what the Palestinian Authority can and can't do in Jenin.
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) July 17, 2023
After Abu Mazen's visit to Jenin last Wednesday, the Palestinian security forces launched an arrest operation against Hamas operatives. Besides the deployment of forces in Jenin, the Palestinian security mechanisms were also deployed in the area of Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. The main target for the arrests are students who are members of the Islamic bloc, of Hamas, who are active in universities in Nablus, Bir Zeit, Hebron, and more.
The Islamic Jihad spokesman, Daoud Shahab, updated that the number of operatives of the organization arrested by Abu Mazen's forces had increased, and said that "the forces of the security services in the Palestinian Authority arrested five members of the movement in Jenin last night." He noted that the latest arrests bring the total number of members of the movement reinforced by the PA to ten.
Kudos to the Palestinian Authority on cracking down on mullah-funded Islamic Jihad 🇮🇷 terrorists in Jenin. pic.twitter.com/ScgrW6hYxm
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) July 17, 2023
However, the spokesman for Islamic Jihad revealed that there are talks between his people and senior Fatah officials and Abu Mazen's associates, with the aim of leading to the release of the detainees. The Jihad even released a video clarifying that the organization did not object to Abu Mazen's visit to the Jenin refugee camp, a step that looks like an attempt to soften positions, which may improve the chances of releasing the detained activists.
