Key Developments (September 12-14)
Palestinians conducted a number of resistance operations
across the occupied West Bank, ranging from using explosive devices to
rocks and fireworks to target Israeli military and settler targets. Operations
were reported in the areas of Bethlehem, Jenin, Salfit, Ramallah and
Hebron, though not all actions were carried out by official resistance
groups or “brigades”. In Tulkarem and Jericho, PIJ-affiliated brigades
in the cities reported targeting Israeli forces with live fire and
explosive devices. On the evening of Tuesday, September 12, Palestinian
fighters allegedly opened fire on a vehicle carrying Israeli settlers in
the town of Huwwara, reportedly injuring two settlers. According to
Israeli media, the settlers were armed and got out of their vehicle to
fire at the gunmen. In recent weeks, reports of Palestinians conducting
operations targeting Israeli military and settler posts have been
happening daily. Simultaneously, more “brigades”, or local militias, are
being formed more frequently, indicating that despite Israel & the
Palestinian Authority’s attempts to curb the growing wave of Palestinian
armed resistance, the trend continues to proliferate across the West
Bank.
The Palestinian Authority reportedly received a shipment of armored vehicles and weapons from the U.S. government
as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to aid joint
Israeli-Palestinian Authority efforts to quash Palestinian resistance. The
Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper released a report Tuesday saying that the
PA had received a shipment from the U.S., facilitated by Jordan, that
will go to several branches of the PA Security Forces (PASF). The
newspaper added that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reportedly
directed his security chiefs to strike Palestinian resistance groups in
the northern West Bank with “an iron fist.” PA forces have been ramping
up their arrest campaigns targeting Palestinian resistance groups in
recent months. The PA has, in recent months, jailed dozens of
Palestinian fighters, along with political dissidents, activists,
journalists, and university students. Some fighters have accepted
clemency and handed over their weapons willingly, but in areas like
Jenin, where armed resistance groups maintain a stronghold, the PA is
still struggling to “take back control” of the city, and its power in
the area.
Israeli forces detained at least 38 Palestinians over three days across the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. According
to local reports, Israeli forces conducted raids across the occupied
Palestinian territory, including a number of Palestinians who were
arrested near the border fence with Gaza, where six Palestinians were
killed on Wednesday after an explosive device was reportedly
preemptively detonated as protesters attempted to place it near the
border fence. Of the 38 Palestinians arrested, at least 18 were from the
Bethlehem area. Important Figures:
- Israel has killed at least 234 Palestinians since the start of the year.
- 5,100 Palestinian political prisoners are currently being held in Israeli jails, including 1,200 administrative detainees.
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