Jenin Brigade Member Justifies Clashes With The Palestinian Authority: They Steal Money From The Martyrs And Their Families, Arrest Honorable People – Opening Fire At Them Is A 'Natural Reaction'

In a December 23, 2024 report on Quds News Network, a member of the Jenin Brigade explained why the group targets the Palestinian Authority and its security forces amid recent clashes. The report showed armed members preparing for battle in the streets and patrolling the area. The member stated that it is "a natural reaction" to target those who steal from martyrs' families or arrest honorable individuals. He emphasized that it is not the militants who are breaking the law, describing the current period as the calmest the fighters have experienced, with growing popular support. He accused the Palestinian Authority of attacking the group and rejecting solutions, despite their concessions. The member added that while they once considered the PA as brothers, further confrontation would lead to an inevitable response.

Jenin Brigade Member: "When we opened fire at the Muqata'a headquarters, it was a reaction. If you steal from the money of the martyrs and their families, it is only natural that I will open fire at you. You arrest honorable people, and expect me not to shoot at you or at the Muqata'a headquarters? No. It is a natural reaction for me to open fire at you. There is no way I am going to sit still while you are stealing from me. This money belongs to the families of martyrs. You came to steal it. It is not me who is breaking the law.

"They are the ones under pressure. For us, as fighters, this is the calmest period. We sleep in our homes, and we see our families. We are very relaxed, as fighters. Even our popular support increased during this period, compared to the past. If you noticed, the first day that the [PA security forces] made their move, all the people gathered around the Jenin Brigade and the fighters. As for us, thank God, we rely on the support of the people here. They thought that we would lose our popular support, but the opposite has happened. The people took to the streets, in order to prevent the bloodshed by the Palestinian Authority.

"It is the Palestinian Authority that needs to prevent the bloodshed, because it is the Palestinian Authority that attacked us, by arresting wanted people, arresting honorable people, and taking the money of the families of the martyrs. They are the ones who attacked us. Anyone who wants to prevent bloodshed should go to them.

"The Palestinian Authority has rejected any solution, even though the brothers made all the concessions, so that no blood is shed in clashes between us and them. So far we have considered [the PA members] to be our brothers, the children of Palestine, our children – but for how long? Ultimately, we will explode. If they try to get closer to us,, we will attack them."