Two days into West Bank truce, Jenin terror groups open fire on PA forces

Clashes have renewed between Palestinian Authority security forces and terror groups in the Jenin refugee camp less than two days after a truce had been reached that was supposed to bring an end to violence in the northern West Bank city after over a month, Palestinian media report.

The clashes come as the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is being implemented. The Gaza agreement is likely a precursor to further tensions between Hamas — whose members in Jenin are affiliated to the armed groups in the northern West Bank — and the PA, as they jockey for post-war control over the Strip.

Last month, the PA launched an unprecedented counter-terror raid in Jenin to demonstrate it can regain control over increasingly lawless Palestinian areas of the West Bank and can do the same in December.

On Friday, the PA reached a truce with the so-called Jenin Battalion in which the leaders of the latter terror group handed over their weapons in exchange for immunity and allowed the PA to enter the refugee camp to restore order there.

PA forces have been operating in Jenin since the weekend, working to defuse bombs. Tonight, armed groups reopened fire against them, Palestinian media reports.

تجدد الاشتباكات مع أجهزة أمن السلطة في مخيم جنين، بعد بيان مشترك لكتيبة جنين وكتائب القسام وكتائب الأقصى أعلنوا فيه أن السلطة نقضت الاتفاق pic.twitter.com/93wMCLdSM1

— Ultra Palestine – الترا فلسطين (@palestineultra) January 19, 2025