Hamas blasts security coordination after IDF kills man once arrested by PA

After Israeli forces on Monday killed a Palestinian operative in Ramallah, Palestinian groups seize the opportunity to attack the unpopular security coordination between Israel and the PA.

Basel al-A’araj, 31, was killed in his hideout in Ramallah after he opened fire at Israeli forces who came to arrest him, the army said. He was suspected of planning a terror attack against Israeli civilians.

A’araj and two others had been arrested by the PA in April while camping out in a mountainous area near Ramallah. He was then released.

At the time, Abbas bragged to the German daily Der Spiegel about his arrest.

Today, just a few hours after his death, Hamas not only praises A’araj’s violent actions, but also makes a point of claiming his death was the result of security coordination.

“There must be a joint national effort by all Palestinian factions and the various national institutions in order to put an end to the security coordination of the Palestinian Authority with the occupation. It ultimately leads to the delivery of [fighters to the IDF] and makes it easier for the occupation army to target them,” Hamas spokesperson Husam Badran says in a statement posted to the terror group’s official website.

— Dov Lieber