Nablus: Palestinian Territory: Clashes broke out on Tuesday in the West Bank city of Nablus after a rare operation by Palestinian Authority security forces to arrest a member of Hamas.
A 53-year-old man named Firas Yaish was reportedly killed in the shootout, but the Palestinian Health Ministry had yet to confirm the reports. A purported tweet by Yash's cousin Kavathar claimed to be "condoling" the demise of Firas.
Several youths continued to throw stones at PA armored vehicles and gunshots were heard throughout the morning in the city center, according to AFP correspondents.
Musab Shtayyeh, 30, was arrested, and Hamas, the secular Fatah movement that controls the PA, condemned the arrest, calling it a "kidnapping ... a national crime" and a "stain" on the PA's reputation.
It criticized the PA for continuing to coordinate security with Israel and called for the immediate release of Shatayeh and Amid Tabayleh.
According to the statement, in the eyes of our Palestinian people, the Authority has established itself as the sole agent of occupation (Israel).
Even though Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967, maintains security ties with the Palestinian Authority, raids against Hamas members are uncommon.
Despite several recent attempts at reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, tensions still exist. Since 2007, when Hamas drove PA forces from a coastal outpost in bloody street fighting, the group has been in charge of Gaza.
In recent months, violence has occurred almost daily in the northern West Bank. Israel has conducted several overnight raids in the region, particularly in Jenin, in an effort to find the wanted people.
Dozens of Palestinians, including fighters, were killed in subsequent raids, after several deadly attacks on Israeli targets in March.
Israel is increasing pressure on the PA to act against alleged militants in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced last week that he would "not hesitate to take action in any place where the Palestinian Authority does not maintain order", after Jenin claimed the lives of two Palestinians and an Israeli soldier.
The head of the Israeli armed forces, Lieutenant General Aviv Kohavi, claimed earlier this month that the "helplessness of the Palestinian Authority security forces" was creating favorable conditions for armed organisations.
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