The arrest of five Islamic Jihad members by Palestinian security forces in Jenin has further underscored the rifts between various groups in the West Bank, exacerbating tensions in the region. This incident comes two weeks after Israel launched its largest raid in years, primarily targeting militants. While Israel has been urging the Palestinian Authority to take more assertive action against Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the situation on the ground seems to be evolving in unexpected ways.

The city of Jenin, as well as the adjacent refugee camp, has become the epicenter of increasing violence across the West Bank, causing concerns internationally from Washington to the Arab world. Militant groups have criticized the Palestinian Authority for its perceived weakness and failure to adequately confront Israeli aggression. Moreover, the lack of immediate comment from Israel or the Palestinian Authority’s security forces adds to the intrigue surrounding these captures.

In the aftermath of Israel’s two-day raid, angry crowds confronted senior Palestinian Authority officials, leading to a tense standoff that forced the officials to leave a funeral procession for the victims of the incursion. Islamic Jihad spokesperson Daoud Shehab claimed that the latest arrests bring the total number of its members detained by the Palestinian Authority to ten. The group is now seeking to secure their release through negotiations with “rational” individuals within Fatah, the dominant political movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas. These detentions have further strained relationships between different factions within the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian Authority, while protesting the Israeli operation and labeling it a war crime, felt powerless to prevent it. They assert that Israel’s repeated undermining of their authority prevents them from establishing their control or laying the foundation for a potential Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank.

These recent events increase the challenges faced by the Palestinian Authority in maintaining stability and asserting its control over its territories. Within the West Bank, the mounting frustration and anger towards the Palestinian Authority’s perceived inability to protect their people from Israeli aggression undoubtedly provide fertile ground for radicalization and further intra-Palestinian conflicts.

As tensions continue to spiral, attention must be drawn to finding diplomatic solutions and addressing the root causes of the conflict. International actors, such as the United States and the Arab world, should play a pivotal role in encouraging dialogue and de-escalating tensions between various factions. Additionally, a comprehensive approach that seeks to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a whole is necessary to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

The captures of Islamic Jihad members in Jenin have once again highlighted the deep divisions and complex dynamics within the Palestinian territories. As Israel intensifies its efforts to target militants, it puts pressure on the Palestinian Authority to respond, simultaneously risking internal conflict and weakening the prospect of a future Palestinian state. A peaceful resolution must address the grievances of all parties involved, ensuring security, and fostering cooperation to achieve a lasting solution.