RAMALLAH, West Bank — The cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh in the central West Bank turned into a war zone Aug. 5, following the killing of Fatah leader Khalil al-Sheikh. Sheikh is the brother of Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs and member of the movement’s Central Committee.

Following the killing, dozens of young men close to Sheikh took to the streets of Ramallah and al-Bireh, carrying M16 rifles and firing bullets into the air until dawn. This came amid conflicting stories about Sheikh’s killing. Palestinan security services are still investigating the matter, but to this date no investigation results have been shared.

In an attempt to prevent the security situation from spiraling out of control and to contain the incident’s repercussions, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh visited the Red Crescent Hospital after Sheikh arrived there injured. Sheikh was later pronounced dead, amid an unprecedented deployment of security services in the streets. On Aug. 6, Shtayyeh issued a decision to form a committee to investigate the incident.

What happened in the city of al-Bireh falls within the context of the rampant chaos and the spread of weapons in the West Bank. An increasing number of people have been using arms in recent months, whether in quarrels or even at celebrations such as weddings.