The Tulkarm Brigade or Tulkarm Battalion (Arabic: كتيبة طولكرم, romanized: Kateeba Tulkarm) is a Palestinian militant group which is affiliated with various Palestinian political factions. The Tulkarm Brigade appeared first in March 2022 in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, and is based in the city of Tulkarm and its camps. The battalion was established in late 2021 as a group for the Al-Quds Brigades, although it became independent in March 2022 with its founder Saif Abu Labdeh. Many fighters from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades joined this group, and in early 2023 many Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades members joined the battalion under the name "Rapid Response Group" founded by Amir Abu Khadijeh.[3]
| Tulkarm Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Saif Abu Labdeh |
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | 2022–present |
| Headquarters | Tulkarm |
| Active regions |  Palestine Israel |
| Ideology | Islamism[1] Jihadism[2] Palestinian self-determination Palestinian nationalism Anti-Zionism Anti-apartheid Anti-imperialism |
| Status | Active |
| Size | Around 175 |
| Part of |
|
| Opponents | Israel Palestinian Authority |
| Battles and wars | Palestinian–Israeli conflict |
Activities
On 30 May 2023, the group killed a 32-year-old illegal Israeli settler near the Hermesh settlement.[4]
On 5 October 2023, the group clashed with Israeli forces attacking Tulkarm, resulting in 5 injuries, including 3 seriously injured.[5]
On 19 October 2023, the group confronted Israeli forces attacking the Tulkarm refugee camp and the Nur Shams refugee camp, causing the death of 1 Israeli officer and 10 injuries.[6][7]
On 23 March 2024, the group claimed to have infiltrated the occupied territories near Al-Deir Gate, attacking a vehicle and causing the deaths of at least 4 Israeli soldiers.[8]
On 18 April 2024, Israeli forces launched a two day wide-scale incursion attack on the Nur Shams refugee camp of Tulkarm. The group engaged in clashes using homemade explosive devices and rifles. The IDF claimed 9 injuries among its forces, and at least 10 brigade members killed during the raid.[9]
On May 29, 2024 the group led a series of attacks on the Bat Hefer community resulting in property damage.[10] The group also claimed to infiltrate the community and raid a house, seizing a machine gun and pistol.[11]
On 24 June 2024, the group remotely detonated two explosive devices targeting the Bat Hefer community. No casualties were reported.[12]
On 1 July 2024, the group clashed with Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp. With a homemade explosive, the group managed to disable an Israeli Namer APC and an Israeli Panther armored vehicle, resulting in the death of 1 Israeli soldier and 1 severely injured.[13]
On 17 July 2024, the group detonated an explosive near the Hermesh settlement, injuring 4 Israelis, including 2 off-duty soldiers and 2 settlers.[14]
On 26 July 2024, various groups within the Tulkarm brigade declared a general mobilization in support of leader Abu Shujaa, who was allegedly besieged by the Palestinian Authority while receiving treatment at the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Hospital. The mobilization prevented his arrest.[15]
On 29 August 2024, Shujaa was killed alongside four other fighters during an Israeli attack in Nur Shams.[16][17]
References
- ^ "Israel's Second Front (Full documentary) | Amid War in Gaza, Tensions Rise in West Bank | FRONTLINE". YouTube. 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Israel's Second Front (Full documentary) | Amid War in Gaza, Tensions Rise in West Bank | FRONTLINE". YouTube. 23 January 2024.
- ^ "مقاتلو كتيبة طولكرم للجزيرة نت: هكذا نطور عملنا العسكري". قناة الجزيرة (in Arabic). 17 December 2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Palestinian gunmen kill Israeli settler in West Bank". Reuters. 30 May 2023.
- ^ "5 officers hurt, including 3 seriously, in West Bank clashes with Palestinian gunmen". The Times of Israel. 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Israel-Palestine war: Palestinians killed by Israeli drone during raid in occupied West Bank". Middle East Eye. 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Israeli border officer, 13 Palestinians killed in West Bank clashes, airstrike". The Times of Israel. 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Four "Israeli" soldiers killed in ambush by Tulkarm Brigade". Roya News. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "10 terrorists killed, 8 arrested in two-day Tulkarm raid". The Jerusalem Post. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ Hamas terrorists fire at Jewish community in Bat Hefer, near Tulkarm, The Jerusalem Post, 29 May 2024
- ^ ""شهداء الأقصى" تكشف تفاصيل عملية اقتحام منزل ضابط من جيش الاحتلال" (in Arabic). 30 May 2024.
- ^ Explosions heard near wall separating Tulkarm and Bat Hefer, central Israel - report, The Jerusalem Post, 23 June 2024
- ^ Soldier killed, another seriously hurt by roadside bomb in West Bank's Nur Shams, The Times of Israel, 1 July 2024
- ^ IDF: Two off-duty soldiers, two civilians wounded in blast near West Bank settlement Hermesh, The Times of Israel, 18 July 2024
- ^ In Dramatic Scene – Palestinians Free Fighter Besieged by PA Police in West Bank (VIDEOS), The Palestine Chronicle, 26 July 2024
- ^ "Israel ramps up military assault on occupied West Bank for second day". Al Jazeera. 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Israel says it 'eliminated' local Palestinian commander in West Bank military operation". France24. 29 August 2024.