Fri Jan 03 12:15:14 UTC 2025: ## Palestinian Authority Accused of Brutality in Jenin Refugee Camp Siege

**Jenin, Occupied West Bank** – The Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) are facing widespread condemnation following a brutal siege of the Jenin refugee camp, resulting in the death of a 21-year-old journalism student, Shatha Sabbagh. Sabbagh was shot and killed by a sniper, allegedly a PASF member, on December 28th, in the same camp where veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was assassinated in 2022.

The month-long siege, coordinated with Israeli forces, aims to suppress armed resistance groups operating in the camp. The PASF has employed tactics described as indistinguishable from those of the Israeli army, including cutting off water and electricity, imposing checkpoints, and deploying snipers. Numerous reports detail beatings, arrests, and torture of civilians, including members of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show PASF members forcing individuals to praise President Mahmoud Abbas and brutally beating a young man for criticizing the siege. The actions have drawn comparisons to the Syrian regime’s Shabiha militia.

Residents have protested the siege, calling for an end to the violence, but their pleas have been ignored. The PASF demands that resistance fighters disarm or leave the camp, a demand they have refused. The ongoing operation is raising concerns about further civilian casualties.

The PA leadership defends the siege as necessary to eliminate armed resistance, hoping to position itself to take control of Gaza after a potential ceasefire. This strategy hinges on demonstrating the ability to quell resistance to Israel, potentially winning support from the US. However, while the Biden administration has hinted at support, the Israeli government has strongly opposed such a scenario.

Further fueling criticism, the PA recently suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank, mirroring a similar ban imposed by Israel, in retaliation for the network’s coverage of the situation in Jenin and Gaza. The PA’s actions, including the killing of Sabbagh and alleged torture, are seen as a severe betrayal by many Palestinians and raise serious questions about its legitimacy.

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