Palestinian Politician Azzam Al-Ahmad: Many Of The 'Martyrs' In Jenin Refugee Camp Were Members Of Palestinian Authority Security Forces

Palestinian politician Azzam Al-Ahmad, who is a member of the PLO Executive Committee and of Fatah's Central Committee, said in a July 4, 2023 show on Al-Mashhad TV (UAE) that many of the "martyrs" of the recent Israeli military operation in Jenin were members of the Palestinian Authority's security forces. He said that it is the duty of all Palestinians to use weapons in defense of Jenin, adding that most of the weapons used by Palestinian fighters originated in Israel and were purchased from smugglers and weapons dealers. Al-Ahmad added that this will continue, "even if we have to pay ten times the real price of the M-16, Kalashnikov, and any other rifles."

Azzam Al-Ahmad: "If your enemy attacks you with Apache helicopters, tanks, drones, and rockets, and hundreds of soldiers are trying to attack a small refugee camp – should we stand idly by? It is the duty of anyone who is there – be it a regular citizen or someone from the [Palestinian Authority] security forces – to defend his people with any weapon in his possession, from stoned to guns. The security forces did not intervene in Jenin yesterday, it was all left to the young armed men. This is just empty talk. Hear me out – this is just empty talk. The very first martyr yesterday in the refugee camp was from the [Palestinian Authority] security forces and from Fatah. He was not from the refugee camp, he was from the city [of Jenin]. His father is a member of Fatah's leadership in the city. Many [other] members of the security forces were also martyred.

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"Let me tell you that most of the Palestinian fighters' weapons were bought from Israel – from smugglers and weapons dealers. Believe me.

Interviewer: "Right, Israeli writers admitted this."

Al-Ahmad: "Right, we leave no stone unturned..."

Interviewer: "Yes, two days ago an Israeli writer wrote that the sad thing about what is going on in the Jenin refugee camp is that the weapons used by the Palestinian fighter are the weapons of the Israeli army.

Al-Ahmad: "Right, and we will keep on doing that. We want to arm ourselves in any way we can – from dealers and on the black market, even if we have to pay ten times the real price of the M-16, Kalashnikov, and any other rifles."