| Operation Protecting the Nation | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of thePalestinian Authority–West Bank militias conflict and theMiddle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Palestinian AuthoritySupported by:  United States[1] |  Palestinian Islamic Jihad HamasSupported by: Civilian protestors Iran (per PA) | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Tubas Brigade[a] | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 officers injured[3] | 80 militants arrested | ||||||
In October 2024, thePalestinian Authority (PA) launched an anti-militant operation in and aroundTubas,West Bank, against theTubas Brigade, alocal Palestinian militia based in the city. The PA titled it "Operation Protecting the Nation".[1]
The PA, led by presidentMahmoud Abbas, sought to suppress militancy in Tubas, which it sees as part of a widerIran-backed push to undermineFatah, the ruling party of the PA; it also sought to demonstrate strength in the face of a widespread perception that it is an ineffective administration.[3]
The operation ended after the arrest of 80 Tubas Brigade militants in November.[1][4]
PA security forces in Tubas arrested the commander of the Tubas Brigade, Ahmed Abu Al-Ayda, who was also wanted byIsrael, and in response protestors erected roadblocks in the city and militants engaged in clashes with the security forces.[5][6] Al-Ayda was shot during his arrest.[7]
Following the arrest, theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) moved into the city.[6]
Militants also targeted the headquarters of thePalestinian Civil Police Force in al-Fara'a camp near Tubas with gunfire.[5]
More clashes in Tubas over the arrests of Abu Al-Ayda and other militants were reported, with one person injured. Security forces entered Tubas in civilian vehicles and ambushed militant positions in the center of the city. In response, militants in Tubas called for a popular mobilization against the Palestinian Authority. Some young men who were not part of the Tubas Brigade but allegedly provided assistance to them were arrested by the security forces.[7][8][9][10]
Students in Tubas refused to attend classes and organized demonstrations in support of the militants.[11]
Security forces opened fire on residents who were organizing a vigil for the recently killedHamas leaderYahya Sinwar.[12]
Security forces carried out an hours-long siege of a house in Tubas where there were two militants, Obada al-Masri and Bakr Abbas; local militant reinforcements failed to break the siege and the two were eventually arrested.[3][13][14]
Security forces seized and detonated an explosive planted by militants that had been planted to target raiding IDF soldiers.[15]
Under pressure from continued clashes and the cutting off of water and electricity into Tubas by the PA, 80 members of the Tubas Brigade ended up surrendering.[1][4] This occurred right afterthe ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which may have influenced the mass surrender with militants realizing that no outside party would be coming to their aid. According toInternational Crisis Group, this was tantamount to a PA victory, and emboldened it togo after militants in Jenin.[1]
Nonetheless, the Tubas Brigade managed to remain intact and continues to be active in fighting against the IDF.[16][17]
Residents of Tubas said the clashes were some of the worst violence they could remember.[3]
Ahmed Asaad, the governor of theTubas Governorate, commended the "iron fist" of the operation against what he described as instability and chaos.[18]
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad said that the Palestinian Authority is serving Israel's agenda and encouraged militants to confront the security forces in Tubas.[3][19][7]
The Tubas Brigade increased security precautions, with some militants moving out of their homes and staying away from the city.[7]
Ghaith al-Omari, an expert on Palestinian Authority affairs atThe Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that the PA wants to restore its reputation with the Tubas operation, but also that Tubas represented "low-hanging fruit" since militants there are weaker than in other areas.[3]
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