The battle for Jenin: The Palestinian Authority's unprecedented crackdown

After three weeks of operations against militant groups in Jenin's refugee camp, the Palestinian Authority's security forces are facing their deadliest days yet. According to official reports, two security officers were killed in the past 24 hours during confrontations with armed militants, raising the operation's death toll to five PA officers and four militants.

The scale of the operation is reflected in the numbers released by PA security forces: 18 booby-trapped vehicles destroyed—ten in just the past 48 hours—and 165 arrests of suspected Jenin Brigade members and their supporters. Some 43 militants have been wounded in the fighting.

The tension escalated Thursday night when, for the first time since the operation began, gunfire erupted across the entire refugee camp rather than in isolated pockets.

The violence has now claimed another life: Palestinian journalist Shatha Sabbagh (22) was killed overnight, though the circumstances remain disputed. While Hamas-affiliated media attribute her death to PA security forces, PA officials deny any involvement.

According to AP, "Al-Sabbagh's family ... said she was killed by a sniper with the Palestinian security forces late Saturday while she was with her mother and two small children. They said there were no militants in the area at the time.

A statement from the Palestinian security forces said she was shot by “outlaws” — the term it has been using for local militants who have been battling Israeli forces in recent years. The security forces condemned the shooting and vowed to investigate it."

In response to growing resistance, the PA has announced new measures: Palestinians who speak out against the security operation may face travel restrictions at land borders and economic sanctions. This comes after Islamic Jihad militants posted videos of themselves wearing suicide vests, directly threatening PA forces.

AP and N12 contributed to this article.