"Stop shooting! My daughter is dead": Woman killed as West Bank power struggle rages

In the power struggle in the West Bank, 21-year-old Shatha Sabbagh was tragically killed by a stray bullet while buying chocolate for her family at a shop in Jenin. The "fearless" journalism student, who aspired to expose the suffering of the Palestinian people, was with her mother, two young nephews, and another relative. Her mother recalls that Shatha was laughing and saying they would stay up late that night, but the next moment, she was struck in the head.

Shatha's mother, Umm Mutasem, still in deep grief, recalled: "Shatha's eyes were wide open, she was lying on her back, and blood was pouring from her head. It looked like she was staring at me. I started screaming, ‘Stop shooting! My daughter is dead. My daughter is dead!’" However, the shooting continued for about ten minutes, and Shatha eventually died in a pool of blood. Shatha's family holds the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces fully responsible for her death, as the area is controlled by the PA.

The Palestinian Authority, however, blames "outlaws," referring to members of the Jenin Brigade, which consists of fighters from armed groups including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas. The PA has limited autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Last month, they launched a large-scale security operation against armed groups stationed there, viewing them as a challenge to their authority. The operation has continued for almost four weeks. The Jenin Brigade is accused of detonating a car in the camp and other "illegal activities." Brigadier General Anwar Rajab of the PA stated that they have confiscated a large number of weapons and explosives, aiming to clear explosive devices placed in the camp's streets and alleys. He also accused Iran of supporting and funding armed groups within the camp.

The Jenin Brigade denies any connection to Iran. The brigade's spokesperson, Nour Bitar, stated in a recently released social media video that the PA is trying to "demonize" them and "tarnish their image," adding that the fighters will not give up their weapons. He questioned the PA and President Mahmoud Abbas: "Why has it come to this?" He held a piece of what he claimed to be a rocket fragment fired by security forces into the camp. The PA, led by President Abbas, has become unpopular among Palestinians due to its refusal of armed struggle and security cooperation with Israel. The PA's crackdown on armed groups in the camp, unprecedented in its intensity and duration, has fueled public anger.

Israel views these groups as terrorists, but many Jenin locals see them as a form of resistance against the occupation. Umm Mutasem said, "The 'outlaws' the PA refers to are the young men who stand up to protect us when the Israeli army raids our camp." According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 14 people have been killed in the crackdown, including a 14-year-old boy. Now, many Jenin locals say they fear the PA as much as they fear Israeli military attacks. Shatha Sabbagh's death has only deepened their contempt. Before her death, Shatha had posted several posts on social media showing the PA's operations in Jenin and the destruction caused by last year's Israeli attack on the camp. Other posts showed photos of armed young men killed in fighting, including her brother. Hamas condemned her killing and confirmed that her brother was a killed member of the group's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The group described her "cold-blooded murder" as "part of the policy of oppression against the Jenin camp, which has become a symbol of steadfastness and resistance."

Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative political party, believes the fighting in Jenin is a consequence of the division between major Palestinian factions—Fatah (which makes up most of the PA) and Hamas (which has ruled Gaza since 2007). He said, "The last thing Palestinians need is to see Palestinians shooting at each other while Israel is suppressing everyone." Residents within the camp say daily life has come to a standstill. Water and electricity have been cut off, and families are suffering from food shortages, cold weather, and constant gunfire. Locals we spoke to requested to change their names, saying they feared retaliation from the PA. Mohammed said, "The situation here is terrible. We cannot move freely within the camp. All the bakeries, restaurants, and shops are closed. The restaurant where I work opens one day and closes ten. When it's open, no one comes. We need milk for our children, we need bread. Some people cannot open their doors because of the constant shooting."

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, has called for an investigation into human rights violations by PA forces. Brigadier General Rajab stated that some "outlaws" who "hijacked" the Jenin camp have been arrested, and other cases pending will also be brought to justice. But Mohammed described the PA's actions as "collective punishment," with innocent people caught in the crossfire. He said, "If they want to go after the outlaws, that doesn't mean they should punish the whole camp. We want our lives back." Sadaf, 20, said even going out to get food or water is a risk. "When we go out, we say our final prayers. We mentally prepare that we might not come back. It's cold. We take the doors off our houses to burn as firewood just to keep warm." The BBC has heard similar accounts from four residents within the camp.

My conversation with Sadaf was interrupted by gunfire. It was unclear where the gunfire came from or who was shooting. The gunfire went on intermittently several times. "Maybe it's warning shots," she speculated, adding that this sometimes happens when PA forces change shifts. Sadaf continued to describe the situation in the camp, "The streets are full of garbage, almost reaching the houses." More gunfire could be heard. Sadaf's mother joined the call. "Listen to this... who can sleep with this background noise? We take turns sleeping now. We are afraid they will raid our homes. We are as afraid of this operation as we are when Israeli soldiers are here." People say that security forces have deliberately targeted the power grid and generators, causing power outages in the camp. The PA again blamed "outlaws" and insisted they have sent workers to fix the grid.

Brigadier General Rajab said that armed groups want to "exploit the suffering of the people to force the PA to stop its operation." He said the security operation will continue until its goals are achieved. Brigadier General Rajab said the PA's goal is to establish control in the Jenin camp and ensure security and stability. He believes that stripping armed groups of control will remove Israel's excuse to attack the camp. In late August, Israeli forces conducted a nine-day "counter-terrorism" operation in the city and camp of Jenin, causing severe damage. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 36 Palestinians were killed, 21 of whom were from the Jenin province. Analysts say the PA is trying to reassert its authority in the West Bank and show the US it is capable of playing a role in the future governance of Gaza. "What is wrong with that?" Brigadier General Rajab said. "Gaza is part of the Palestinian state. Gaza and the West Bank are not separate entities. There is no Palestinian state without Gaza. The President (Mahmoud Abbas) has said that, and that is our strategy."

But Barghouti said this approach is "delusional." He added, "You just have to listen to what (Benjamin) Netanyahu is saying." According to the Israeli Prime Minister's vision for post-war Gaza, Israel would control security indefinitely, and Palestinians "not affiliated with groups hostile to Israel"—thus excluding any of the existing major Palestinian political parties—would administer the territory. But the US, Israel's main ally, wants the PA to govern Gaza after the war. Netanyahu has previously ruled out the PA playing a role in the aftermath. For the residents of the Jenin camp, the violence and loss have not diminished. "The PA says they came for our safety. Where was the safety when my daughter was killed? Where is the safety when the shooting doesn't stop?" Umm Mutasem cried out. "They can go after the 'outlaws,' but why does my daughter have to die? Justice will only be served when I find out who killed my daughter," she said.