PA forces said to kill terror group commander in West Bank

Palestinian Authority security forces killed a senior member of the Jenin Battalion in the northern West Bank city last night, says Palestinian media.

Hamas condemned the assassination of Abdel Rahman Abu Muna this morning, calling it a “dangerous escalation” by the West Bank-based PA.

Hebrew media cites a PA spokesman who claims that Abu Muna reportedly opened fire on Palestinian security forces, who returned fire and killed him.

In December, PA forces launched a military operation against the Jenin Battalion — a local militia linked to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups.

The IDF began its own raids on the city in late January, announcing a large-scale operation dubbed “Iron Wall” which has since expanded to refugee camps near Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas. PA forces maintain their presence in Jenin.

Ramallah has struggled to exert control over the northern West Bank, particularly in refugee camps in and around Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarem.