“Murdered by Torture”: Islamic Jihad Blames Palestinian Authority for Member’s Death
Allegations Surrounding the Death of Ahmed Abu al-Najjar
The Islamic Jihad movement has publicly accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of the alleged torture and murder of start of its members, Ahmed Abu al-Najjar, who was reportedly a part of the Jenin Brigade. In an official statement, the organization expressed profound sorrow over his death, which they claim occurred as a result of torture in a PA prison.
Claims of Torture and Condemnation of Israeli Actions
According to the Islamic Jihad, Abu al-Najjar died after being imprisstartd since the onset of the latest escalation of violence. They emphasized that he had spent five years in what they referred to as the “occupation’s” prisons. The statement condemned the ongoing security coordination between the PA and Israel, labeling Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip as “genocide” and the displacement of people in the West Bank as “ethnic cleansing.”
The organization further criticized the American government’s support for Israel, linking it to the suffering of Palestinians. They claimed that the Palestinian people in Gaza are facing a comprehensive genocide, described as an “aggressive hunger war,” along with the bombing of shelters and the incineration of children and women by the Israeli army.
Allegations of Brutality and Appeals for Action
The group claimed that the authorities in Ramallah displayed a lack of decency by refusing to return Abu al-Najjar’s body to his family and denying a requested autopsy, which they alleged was necessary after his death was described as a suicide. They characterized this refusal as a heinous crime that serves only the enemy’s agenda, further denouncing PA security forces for their treatment of detainees, including resistance fighters.
In their statement, Islamic Jihad called for the immediate release of all resistance fighters and political detainees and urged the PA to restrain its security apparatus and cease its oppressive tactics. They also appealed to rational members of their community to intervene urgently in order to quell the conflict that they believe the occupation is attempting to incite.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, where accusations and counter-accusations persist amidst a backdrop of violence and political conflict