Occupied Ramallah- In light of the continuation of the Palestinian security operation in the Jenin Palestinian refugee camp, in the northern West Bank, two experts warned of repercussions that go beyond the spilled blood in the camp, to something more dangerous.
The danger, according to the two experts, is related to the repercussions and effects of the ongoing incitement, mobilization, and hatred on the structure, awareness, and principles of Palestinian society, which may last for a long time, as well as diverting attention from the contemporary tragedy in Gaza, which requires a cohesive society.
In the latest data on the victims of the security operation in Jenin, the Independent Palestinian Authority said that 11 Palestinians were killed, including 5 security personnel and 6 civilians.
The greatest danger
For 3 weeks, armed clashes have been taking place in the Jenin camp between members of the Palestinian Authority’s security services and the resistance fighters from the Jenin Brigade holed up inside it, whom it describes as “outlaws.”
The security operation was accompanied by great tension and inflammatory rhetoric full of hatred, hatred, and treason, affecting what the Palestinians consider to be constants such as “resistance” and the idea of “the camp,” which was reflected in social media networks, as well as the authority’s mobilization of its institutions, unions, clans, and even the private sector to support its position.
Political analyst and researcher Jihad Harb told Al Jazeera Net that the danger of today’s state of incitement and militancy is “much greater than the volume of blood that was shed and is being shed over a period of about 20 days in the Jenin camp.”
He explained that the incitement we are witnessing “affects the structure of Palestinian society and its existing concepts in light of general disappointment in the Palestinian street from all sides, and an ongoing crisis for the Palestinian issue in general.”
He said, “The current state of incitement is spreading division among Palestinians, and many future problems could develop around or through it among Palestinians. Therefore, the imminent danger to Palestinian society is the current state of incitement on various social media platforms between all parties.”
The Fatah movement in Jenin organizes a march on the occasion of the anniversary of the launch of Fatah, and in support of the security services and President Mahmoud Abbas. pic.twitter.com/qCRAg0WTmp
– Quds News Network (@qudsn) December 29, 2024
Hatred and spite
Harb did not rule out that “problems will arise in Palestinian society, between families, and in the family itself, due to existing political affiliations and the high controversy regarding the language of discourse that exists today against the backdrop of what is happening in Jenin, which is the culmination of many years of accumulation in the same scene.”
He pointed to a speech similar to what is happening today – albeit to a lesser extent – that occurred in 2021 after the killing of oppositionist Nizar Banat, “but this time it came back stronger with regard to the speech of hatred, hatred and incitement that establishes a conflict in Palestinian society with undesirable consequences in the future.”
He adds that one of the most prominent reasons for the dispute is “the struggle strategy of each party,” calling for a reconsideration of “all forms of struggle in order to restore the Palestinian renaissance and the renaissance of resistance for years and to recover from the effects, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.”
To overcome the crisis and achieve community rapprochement, he called for “more involvement in supporting the Gaza Strip in all fields and volunteering for that, whether morally or financially.”
Despite the failure of the factions to agree on a unified political program, he called for “renewing political dialogue because of its effect in melting the ice of hatred and hatred and reducing incitement speech.”
“There is no one armed from the battalion in the area.” The father of journalist Shatha Al-Sabbagh holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for his daughter being shot dead in the Jenin camp.#video #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/8XZUAXD6pb
– Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) December 29, 2024
Neutralize society
For his part, Professor of Psychology at Hebron University, Dr. Kamel Katlo, says that the events in Jenin have “disruptive and negative effects on psychological and social life and the cohesion of Palestinian society.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, he pointed out “long-term effects that exacerbate and fragment the Palestinian national identity, especially in light of the harsh conditions experienced in the Gaza Strip in particular, which require the unity of everyone behind one identity away from accusations that disrupt life socially and economically.”
Katlow spoke of “very, very painful psychological effects, a distraction from the difficult reality, and an unparalleled genocide in human history in the Gaza Strip.”
He said that what is happening in Jenin “led to the withdrawal of a large part of society from the focus and circle of the real actual conflict with the occupation in other directions, and this is something that has far-reaching effects.”
He added, “In this difficult time, we need to be psychologically cohesive and our compass points in the direction of unity, steadfastness and resistance.”
“Jenin Brigade”: “We place in your hands the dark actions carried out by the authority against the Jenin camp.”#video #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/19S8DLiJQs
– Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) December 28, 2024
Treatment in Gaza
He continued that what is happening in Jenin – in addition to being the result of a difference in visions and viewpoints – requires “reconsidering the issue of contracting on a single unifying identity, and this requires concessions from everyone to reach a meeting point between everyone.”
Katlow believes that “most people defend their personal partisan identity more than their collective identity, at a time when social media networks have become the most shaping people’s awareness in a negative direction, in addition to dishonest media.”
The Palestinian academic rules out the existence of a “magic recipe to heal the rift,” pointing to the importance of the achievements that Gaza may achieve, whether in a deal or in the field, which will reflect positively on Palestinian society.
He stressed the need for wisdom and concessions at this stage in order for the Palestinians to restore their cohesion and unity in the daily sense of life.
He spoke about “the importance of preserving the identity and symbolism of the camp in the Palestinian consciousness, and not harming it as it is a symbol of return and its survival is a symbol of the continuing tragedy of displacement.”