Palestinian Police Engage in Clashes with Armed Groups in West Bank, One Dead

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Joi Ito)

JAKARTA - A Palestinian armed group clashed with the security forces of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank on Tuesday, causing one person to die, following the arrests of two insurgents, witnesses and medics said.

The armed group Hamas, a rival to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA), said PA had arrested one of its senior members wanted by Israel and another gunman, in the city of Nablus.

The confrontation broke out in both cities last night. Shots were fired at PA headquarters in Jenin, witnesses said. Shops closed and An-Najah National University instructed students to stay at home, reported Reuters on September 20.

Witnesses said PA police fired tear gas at a young man throwing stones. It was not immediately clear whether the 53-year-old man who died in the clash was shot by PA or militants.

There was no immediate comment from PA, which received criticism from Israel and the United States for not doing enough to control gunmen in militant strongholds such as Nablus and Jenin's nearby city.

Violence in the West Bank has surged in recent months, after Israel stepped up attacks on the region, following a spate of deadly Palestinian street attacks in Israel.

PA leaders said Israeli attacks weakened its power. Meanwhile, Israel said it should operate there to prevent more attacks, demanding a PA crackdown on militants.

The US-sponsored Palestinian state talks with Israel collapsed in 2014.

Since then, PA's domestic credibility has eased, while Hamas leaders regularly called on militants in the West Bank to step up attacks on Israel.

The Palestinian Authority has restricted its own government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas controls Gaza, which he seized from the Fatah Group in 2007.

"Palestinian authorities have positioned themselves as the exclusive occupational agent (Israel) against our Palestinian people", said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.

PA has not commented on the latest violence. They have previously rejected such accusations, accusing Hamas of trying to incite the public to fight against him.