Balad praises slain Palestinian doctor-gunman claimed as terror group member

The Arab nationalist party Balad posted a statement on its official Facebook page that appeared to praise a Palestinian doctor who was killed in an armed clash with Israeli forces in the West Bank.

In a post written in Arabic on Friday, the same day as the clash, the party included a part of a poem in Abdullah Abu Tin’s memory that read: “May Allah protect you, for no prophet like you has been seen or heard,” and concluded the post with: “May God have mercy on you.”

The post also included a picture of Abu Tin.

According to an Israeli security source, Abu Tin was armed and directly involved in the battle that developed between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen in the Jenin refugee camp.

In a poster announcing his death, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror group claimed Abu Tin as a member and said he died “in an armed clash” with Israeli forces “defending the homeland.” The poster showed him posing with five assault rifles.

A Telegram account thought to be tied to the group also published a brief statement saying Abu Tin “was martyred while fighting shoulder to shoulder with the resistance fighters.”

Last month, Balad was barred from running in Israel’s general elections in November, with the Central Elections Committee accepting a petition that alleged that the party undermines Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

However, after Balad appealed the decision, the High Court overturned the ruling against the Arab nationalist party, allowing it to run in the upcoming elections.

Headed by Sami Abou Shehadeh, Balad broke off last month from Hadash and Ta’al, its former partners in the Joint List.

Polling suggests that the Balad party will fall far short of the electoral threshold.