Palestinian sources reported that IDF forces operating in the Balata refugee camp in Nalbus arrested four Fatah operatives, Tuesday morning, among them Palestinian legislator Jamal Tirawi.
Exchanges of fire broke out in the area, although there were no reported casualties. The IDF confirmed the arrests and added that they had also detained three Hamas operatives in the refugee camp. Pistols were found in their possession.
Tirawi, a relative of the director of intelligence in the West Bank, Tawfiq Tirawi, was formerly the commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades – Fatah's military wing. Today, he is the Fatah faction spokesman in the Palestinian parliament.
The three other arrested operatives were members of the al-Aqsa Brigades. One of them was Ravia Abu-Lil, a senior member of the organization in Nablus.
Witnesses told Ynet that dozens of IDF jeeps arrived at the refugee camp, surrounded a house in which Tirawi, Abu-Lil and the two other operatives were staying, and arrested the men inside.
Tirawi's arrest is surprising since he is one of the leading members in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction. Recently, he was considered one of the most outspoken opponents of Hamas and its Executive Force.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
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