RAMALLAH, West Bank — According to media outlets such as Donia al-Watan and France 24, Palestinian security sources announced on condition of anonymity that Palestinian security forces arrested a cell in the West Bank city of Nablus, without specifying the date. The cell was planning to assassinate three Fatah leaders in the city: member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Jamal Tirawi, secretary-general of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council Amin Maqboul and member of the executive committee of the PLO Ghassan Shakaa.

Although the arrest of the cell was revealed in the media, the security apparatus is still reserved about sharing details in regard to the cell, its members and its plans due to the ongoing investigations. Spokesperson for the security apparatus Adnan al-Damiri told Al-Monitor, “What has been circulated in the media about the cell was not [officially] issued by the security institution and investigations are still ongoing. We cannot comment at the moment.”

Nablus Gov. Akram Rajoub reconfirmed the security apparatus’ stance and told Al-Monitor, “The investigations are ongoing on all levels and revealing the details will only harm the investigation process and its desired results. There are several parties linked to the cell that we must uncover, and we must analyze the investigation data to avoid any mistakes.”

Rajoub said, “Leaking the arrest of the cell to the media is not part of the work strategy of the security institution. The news was leaked by people who have personal agendas and interests. As a result, the security institution is facing a dangerous security leak that might be even more dangerous than the assassinations themselves.”