The city of Jenin in the northern West Bank has been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

But in the past month, an unusual sight has greeted residents accustomed to violence on their streets.

Instead of Israel Defense Forces personnel sweeping the warren-like alleys, it is the black vehicles of the Palestinian Authority (PA) that loom over residents here.

Stationed at the entrance, roadblocks have been put in place and masked Palestinian security officers have entered the city on the hunt for terror groups such as Hamas. 

The operation is part of “protect the homeland” – a crackdown on the Jenin Brigade, which consists of members from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades.

And the timing is auspicious.