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Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 28

(1/4) I have been closely monitoring the security situation in the West Bank for years. Tonight, the Israeli military launched a large-scale invasion into several cities in the northern West Bank. So far 11 have been killed at least 6 fighters. If certain parts of my very long analysis here seem to be incomplete or vague, please bear with me; this is intentional due to security considerations

Background:

In October 2021, the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership sought to send a clear message: the absence of a political solution would lead to an irreversible deterioration in the security situation. The situation was echoed and resulted in two empty talk US-Israeli-Arab-PA summits held in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh. For Abbas this was huge, he is getting attention. Despite recognizing that he was being misled, President Abbas pushed anyways forward with his plans, determined to be seen as the ideal peace partner.

The PA has been actively working to maintain security in the West Bank, it’s not that it does it for Israel’s benefit, which in reality is, but for its own national interest. The 2nd intifada can not be repeated. For Abbas this was a failed experience (for me Abbas worked to fail it). However, the Authority has placed all its bets on being perceived as the optimal peace partner. The Palestinian people, however, are growing increasingly frustrated with this approach, especially as the promise of a political solution in exchange for quiet—a promise Abbas made when he won the presidential elections in 2005—remains unfulfilled. The Second Intifada ended with the expectation of a lasting just solution, but Israel didn’t want to materialize this.

PA security officials have repeatedly stressed in discussions with their Israeli counterparts in 2021-2022 that security is a mutual interest, but it hinges on Palestinians being granted their basic human rights. Yet, the Israeli military has made it clear that nothing can be done since the leaders, who show no interest in pursuing such a path have already been pursuing stealing lands and bringing their own-terror convicted figures into the leadership.

For the past four years, the Israeli military has conducted daily raids, arresting tens of thousands in an attempt to suppress resistance to their occupation and to further their government’s agenda of land stealing. After October 7th, the notion of Palestinian self-rule with a national identity has been erased in the eyes of Israel. While the PA has provided Israel with security for decades in the hope of achieving a peaceful just resolution, the PA did not provide it with what it and the Palestinians will never relinquish: their national identity. This assertion of identity—expressed through living as Palestinians in their homeland—poses the greatest threat to Israel. In Israel, they need a self autonomy that sees themself as Arabs, that strictly doesn’t express this national background.

Several PA officials have expressed to me that Israel's current objective is not merely to combat resistance fighters or mow the loan, but to "Gazify" the West Bank. They believe Israel aims to justify the severe aggression in areas like Tulkarem by portraying them as akin to Gaza, both to its own public and to the international community. This would provide Israel with the pretext to inflict heavy collective punishment on anyone who resists, as we are witnessing in the ongoing large-scale invasion.

The Palestinian government is facing an existential crisis, exacerbated by efforts by Israel to push it toward near-collapse, as weak as possible until we find another report but for Israel Gaza needs to be solved first. The PA is caught in a difficult position, unable to offer a viable option to those who want to resist the occupation, yet responsible for protecting its citizens from harm. The PA is left questioning whether remaining quiet will bring any improvement, especially as settlers ->

(2/4) who have established notorious Zionist militias typical and even worse than the then Haganah and Irgun , known for its brutal and zionist style onslaughts across the mandate of Palestine. These militias have since October 7 launched deadly pogroms, murdered dozens of civilians including children, ethnically cleansed communities, stolen more lands and burned tens of villages.

Settlement expansion continues unchecked, and extremist Kahanist elements have gained control of the Israeli government. On October 7th, the PA held numerous meetings aimed at preventing any escalation in the West Bank. Security forces were placed on high alert, and representatives met with gunmen in Balata (Nablus), Jenin, and Tulkarem explaining to them the necessity to avoid being drawn into war.

In Jenin and Tulkarem, security officers who are fathers to men involved in the resistance played a crucial role in containing operations. Fatah officials engaged in deep discussions with members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas in the refugee camps, leading to a decision to delay any escalation. However, many of these figures were later arrested by the occupation forces, including Jamal Hweel, a key figure in Jenin associated with Marwan Barghouti. Despite these arrests, the Israeli military’s invasions in November and late October also played as a painkiller but with long-term ramifications.

Security Situation in the West Bank

Nablus:
Since October 7, military operations and airstrikes in the Balata Refugee Camp have significantly disrupted the activities of local armed groups. The operations have particularly targeted Fatah militants, leading to the elimination and arrest of several members, as well as hindering the development of military infrastructure. However, for unknown reasons the very few military incursions into Nablus' old city have allowed the Lion's Den, an armed group, to reorganize. The group's founding father, released from prison a year ago, has resumed his role, with support from old Lion’s Den members and with the capabilities that can be provided through the Asker, Ain, and Balata refugee camps. Recently, tensions escalated between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Lion’s Den following the arrest of a member responsible for weapon import. The old city, with its complex layout, provides ideal hideouts for the group, which has recently implemented strict security measures and set up roadblocks to maintain secrecy.

Tulkarem:
Tulkarem has become a stronghold of armed resistance, with various groups establishing a solid presence. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has a well-organized network in the Nour Shams Refugee Camp, while Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (AAMB) and a single Hamas cell are active in the Tulkarem Refugee Camp.

Jenin:
In Jenin, the resistance remains largely unchanged despite the complexity of the situation. Following a series of airstrikes that killed many fighters, including key figures, militants in Jenin and Tulkarem have adopted a strategy of avoiding direct gunfire with the military unless absolutely necessary, relying instead on explosives and ambushes. Hamas has been investing heavily in the creation of new cells in Jenin and Tulkarem, leveraging the difficulties faced by the PA in these areas, especially within the refugee camps due to already existing cells. Hamas cells are highly secretive, often relying on obtaining weapons from existing PIJ and Fatah-affiliated groups.

The PA intelligence is attempting to track these cells by monitoring PIJ members, their families, and associates suspected of Hamas affiliations. This has led to several arrests. In a specific incident, a highly secretive Hamas cell responsible for two deadly attacks on Israeli troops was accidentally exposed by the PA intelligence. The exposure occurred when militants left a bag containing explosive materials in a neighborhood in Tulkarem during a handover to the cell. During an unrelated Israeli military incursion

(3/4) aimed at arresting other individuals in another neighborhood, the cell members fled, abandoning the bag on the street. Upon Israeli withdrawal, the PA security forces redeployed discovering the bag and reported it to intelligence officials, who then reviewed CCTV footage from the area. As a result, the PA attempted to detain the individuals involved for questioning, the move created a public scene and the incident eventually reached the ears of the Israeli intelligence who started identifying ties. The cell was eventually tracked down and eliminated in a village east of Tulkarem.

PA's Efforts to Contain the Situation:

The PA’s goal was to contain the resistance in the West Bank until the war in Gaza subsides. The PA has been conducting targeted operations aimed at locating explosives and arresting individuals involved in weapon smuggling, as these weapons are often sold not only to fighters but also to others. The PA avoids arresting fighters, except in exceptional cases. Their strategy focuses on cutting off resources and isolating potential new recruits. Israeli intelligence closely monitors PA activities and arrests to gauge their objectives, often aligning their own actions accordingly.

For example, the Israeli military's decision to operate in Tubas came despite the PA’s attempts to control the situation, including the arrest of PIJ members after failing to persuade them to surrender their weapons. The concern by the PA had with the city is the explosives manufactured there that are being smuggled into Nablus and then to Tulkarem. The PA has already discovered and dismantled two explosives laboratories, confiscating other weapons in the process. The clans had tried to tell the security forces to refrain from further activities but the response was: superior orders from Ramallah.

Weapon smuggling in the West Bank primarily occurs through routes in refugee camps in Hebron and Tubas. The Jordan Valley and southern villages of Jenin are also known areas for manufacturing explosives and weapon parts.

However, the PA’s security forces struggle with a huge lack of popular support to carry out any friction with the fighters, the move is not even supported among mid-level officers, making it difficult to effectively challenge these militant groups. The underlying issue is that the PA has little to offer these fighters as an incentive to disarm. These fighters have feelings and can’t stand idly while tens of thousands of their people are being killed in Gaza.

A notable incident involved the PA's attempt to obtain testimony from Abu Shojaee, a PIJ commander injured while manufacturing explosives after being brought for treatment in a hospital in Tulkarem following a police reunion. This action was perceived as an attempt to arrest him, sparking chaos in the city as hundreds of people took to the streets.

According to recent estimates from PA intelligence sources, the number of fighters in Jenin is approximately 60, with small individual cells of 3-4 members in some villages. In Tulkarem, the number is between 20-30, and in Nablus, it ranges from 7-15. There are also other armed individuals, but they possess weapons for personal reasons rather than organized resistance.

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Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 27

Rafah |

Israeli soldiers in Rafah looting and wearing women underwear and dresses belonging to displaced or killed Palestinian women

More pictures from Rafah

Correction: this is in Khan Younis* not Rafah.

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Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 26

🧵What Happened Yesterday in Palestine?

Israeli military bombs in Gaza, killing dozens, incl women and children, executes a 15 yo girl with sniper fire in Mawasi, unleash settlers in a mass attack into a Bethlehem village killing one, and strikes in Tulkarem killing 5 people ->

JABALIA, NORTH GAZA |

3 Palestinians were bombed while on Hoja Street in Jabalia Refugee Camp.

The target was a food stall. The 2 passbyers and the owner of the stall were killed.

Gaza city, Part I |

7 people were killed by Israeli fire while fishing on Gaza city’s coast.

In Tuffah neighborhood east the city, an Israeli attack on an apartment belonging to Zino family in Yaffa street resulted in 4 dead all of them are children

Read 13 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 22

🧵 (⚠️) Warning sensitive content

Israeli-Indian soldier Elisha Gangte from the Steel Cat Company shares disturbing footage showing clear evidence of war crimes being committed in Gaza.

1. Civilians as human shields. In the video, he writes , "Terrorists > military dogs."

2. Destroying graveyards.

He writes in Hebrew “Because you didn't invite me to the funeral😭😭”

January 2 from Khan Younis

3. ⚠️ Sensitive content ⚠️

Recording stray dogs biting on the body of a murdered woman by his military, joking by an accompanied background music captioned with “what’s the dog doing.”

Read 16 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 18

I spoke with Tamer Abo Misbh, head of the maintenance team at the water services in Deir al-Balah. He informed me about the severe water crisis in the town, which currently a shelter to over a 1 M residents. This situation has exacerbated by the new Israeli evacuation orders ->

The Israeli evacuation orders affected areas of Deir al-Balah where the city's main water wells are located—9 in total, with seven for human use and two for drinking water. These wells are critical for supplying water to the entire city. Tamer mentioned another water facility ->

In the SW, there's another facility that provides water to people in Mawasi & W Deir al-Balah, which hasn't been impacted by evacuation orders.

Tamer explains that residents, who used to receive water every 3-5 days during the war, will now have to wait 9-13 days for access

Read 4 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 4

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

⚠️Warning

🧵Israeli soldier Moshe Yifrah currently serving in the Gaza division.

“Do not return home until you have b**ned all of Gaza. Leave not even a baby there!!!! I take upon myself any sin you commit there. Feel free to slau**r them alive if possible, please!!!"” ->

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

"B*rn Gaza and k*** every last person from Gaza! There is no such thing as
'innocents'; everyone there is a child of Satan!" - Yesterday

Same as above but this time b*** with all its residents and by an atom bomb

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