The PA has struggled to establish uncontested control in parts of Judea and Samaria because armed factions maintain weapons, local networks, and the capacity to confront security forces. The problem is visible in Jenin, where PA forces launched an operation in December 2024 to reassert law and order and armed men fought back. The episode shows contested authority, not that armed groups governed the city.
Armed groups challenge state authority
Hamas and Islamic Jihad maintain armed networks, and local formations have operated in northern towns and camps. The presence of those groups undermines the PA’s monopoly on force and creates direct risks to Israeli civilians and PA personnel. The PA has limited capacity to disarm them without triggering armed clashes and civilian harm.
The December 2024 Jenin operation
The UN Human Rights Office reported that the PA began its Jenin operation on 5 December 2024. Its December 11 statement described the killing of 19-year-old Rebhi Mohammed Shalabi and injury of his 15-year-old cousin, and called for an investigation. It also reported armed men returning fire and an explosive device near a police headquarters. The clashes showed the difficulty of restoring control while armed groups resisted the operation.
UNRWA said that clashes between PA forces and armed actors forced it to suspend services in Jenin camp. The PA’s operation targeted armed men and sought to reassert its authority; the use of force and deaths then raised serious questions about lawful policing and accountability. Both the security challenge and the manner of response matter.
Why the control problem persists
Security forces must contend with politically organized factions, local support networks, weapons, and areas where national institutions are weak. Repeated postponement of elections has also left the PA with limited political legitimacy to resolve its rivalry with Hamas through a renewed mandate. Israel’s security needs are directly affected when armed factions can plan attacks from population centers.