Hamas-Fatah bitter split plays out in West Bank universities
Tempers flare as the Palestinian Authority pursues Hamas-affiliated university students on campuses.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Birzeit University suspended all activities recently after a brawl erupted between the student blocs of Hamas and Fatah.
The Dec. 17 fight began after security forces wearing civilian attire attempted to arrest a student belonging to the Islamic Bloc, Hamas’ student wing. Witnesses and members of the Islamic Bloc who spoke to Al-Monitor said the forces were most likely affiliated with the Palestinian Authority (PA) intelligence network in the West Bank, which is known to pursue students belonging to the Islamic Bloc because of their university and student activities.
The targeted student was leaving the university with his friends when security forces intercepted them. All of the students managed to escape and hide inside the university. Gunshots were reported, but no one was injured.
Enraged by what had just happened, the students started yelling at security personnel and hurling insults about the PA — which didn’t sit well with members of Fatah's student party, Shabiba. An altercation developed into a brawl despite the university guards’ attempts to contain the situation, which required an intervention by the university's administration. The school canceled courses for the next day, and classes resumed Dec. 19.
