Palestinian Authority says another member of security forces killed in Jenin

Jenin (West Bank), Dec 23 (AP) The Palestinian Authority says a second member of its security forces has been killed in the West Bank town of Jenin during clashes with Palestinian militants.
     Brig Gen Anwar Rajab, the spokesman for PA security forces, said 1st Sgt Mehran Qadoos was killed on Monday by “outlaws” in the volatile northern town, where the security forces launched a rare crackdown earlier this month. A member of security forces also was killed on Sunday.
     An Associated Press reporter in Jenin heard heavy gunfire and explosions, apparently from a battle between the security forces and Palestinian militants. There was no sign of Israeli forces in the area.
     Militant groups had earlier called for a general strike across the territory, accusing the security forces of trying to disarm them in support of Israel's half-century occupation of the territory.
     The Western-backed Palestinian Authority is internationally recognized but deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters. Israel accuses the authority of incitement and of failing to act against armed groups.
     The Palestinian Authority exercises limited authority in population centers in the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state.
     Israel's current government is opposed to Palestinian statehood and says it will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Violence has soared in the West Bank following Hamas' Oct 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there.
    
     Palestinians in Jenin observe a general strike
     JENIN, West Bank — Palestinians in the volatile northern West Bank town of Jenin are observing a general strike called by militant groups to protest a rare crackdown by Palestinian security forces.
     An Associated Press reporter in Jenin heard gunfire and explosions, apparently from clashes between militants and Palestinian security forces. It was not immediately clear if anyone was killed or wounded. There was no sign of Israeli troops in the area.
     Shops were closed in the city on Monday, the day after militants killed a member of the Palestinian security forces and wounded two others.
     Militant groups called for a general strike across the territory, accusing the security forces of trying to disarm them in support of Israel's half-century occupation of the territory.
     The Western-backed Palestinian Authority is internationally recognised but deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters. Israel accuses the authority of incitement and of failing to act against armed groups.
     The Palestinian Authority blamed Sunday's attack on “outlaws”. It says it is committed to maintaining law and order but will not police the occupation.
     The Palestinian Authority exercises limited authority in population centers in the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state.
     Israel's current government is opposed to Palestinian statehood and says it will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Violence has soared in the West Bank following Hamas' Oct 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. (AP) SCY
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)