An armed group based in Nablus, Why does the "Law of the Lions" occupy Israel's security leaders?

The "Lion's Den" grabs the attention of Palestinian youth, at a time when Israel is pursuing its own elements. For his part, researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, Udi Dekel, considers that its growing resistance is a sign to Israel that it cannot put the Palestinian cause under the rug.

The Palestinian armed group "The Lions' Den", which is stationed in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, has become a preoccupation for Israeli experts and security leaders alike, although Tel Aviv estimates the number of its members to be in the dozens.

The "lion's den" has emerged in the past few months, yet it has quickly turned into a phenomenon that captures the attention of the majority of Palestinian youth at a time when Israel is pursuing its elements and leaders.

A week before the general elections, "The Lions' Den" made headlines in the media in Israel, and its government leaders, aspiring to stay in power, are racing to announce the liquidation of leaders from the Palestinian group.

Future scenarios

The researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, Major General in the Reserve Udi Dekel, considered that "the growing resistance of the Lions' Den in the West Bank, and its attraction to Palestinian youth and its responsibility - apparently - for the majority of the shootings in recent weeks, is another indication to Israel that it cannot fold The Palestinian cause is under the rug.

General Dekel was the head of the negotiating team with the Palestinians during the era of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (2007-2008), and he held high positions in the army, intelligence and international military cooperation, the last of which was the head of the Strategic Planning Department in the Army's General Staff.

He said in a position paper that "the Israeli approach, which is based primarily on the increased use of force, has exhausted itself. Now, new efforts of various kinds are required, as well as preparations for scenarios that may result from the new situation."

He added, "The phenomenon of the lions' den is another indication to Israel that it will not be able to contain the Palestinian territories forever, and another expression of the weakening of the Palestinian Authority."

Dekel considered that "the current situation may result in a number of scenarios, the first of which is a comprehensive popular initiative that will attract the Palestinian people to work that would change the leadership and the current rules of the game."

The second scenario, from his point of view, is "Hamas seizure of the dynamics of the situation, which leads to an increase in violence and chaos in the West Bank."

Third, Israel faces international pressures to allow elections for the Palestinian parliament and the presidency of the Palestinian Authority.

And he warned that "a new and broad military operation would accelerate the weakening of the Palestinian Authority."

He pointed out that "most of the members of the lions' den are young men, and some of them are former members of the Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements, and some of them are the children of fathers serving in the security services of the Palestinian Authority."

"Most of the shooting incidents in the West Bank in recent weeks have been attributed to this group, which is the main component responsible for the escalation in the region," he said.

Dekel pointed out that "last September witnessed more than 34 shooting incidents in the West Bank, the highest number in more than a decade."

He pointed out that the shooting operations included settlements, vehicles on the roads, army sites and bases, in addition to clashes with live ammunition with Israeli forces operating in Palestinian cities and villages.

There is no way out

Dekel said: "The group's declared goal is to confront the Israeli army forces operating in Palestinian cities and villages, disrupt the lives of the residents of settlements and their access to Joseph's tomb to pray, and provoke the Palestinian public to a widespread popular uprising."

He continued: "The group is very active on social media, and launches special campaigns on the Tik Tok application, as well as documents the clashes and publishes videos on the networks at the right time, and calls on the Palestinian people to engage in the defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as calls for strikes and demonstrations."

He pointed out that "although the lions' den does not belong to any of the current organizations or movements, it is equipped with smuggled and locally made weapons, and it appears that it is supported by funds from Hamas and Islamic Jihad."

He added, "The Palestinian public lives with a prevailing feeling that there is no way out, no way to guarantee a better national future, and no credible leadership. This creates a vacuum that generates groups of young fighters who are able to attract other young people to join them."

Small organization

In turn, Yossi Yehoshua, an analyst in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, described the "den of the lions" as "a very small, unintelligent organization, without advanced means and without high operational capacity, and it makes a lot of noise."

And he added in an article on Monday: "In the organization, they are threatening revenge operations, and the Israeli army is ready in the Nablus area, but the fear is that the members of the lions' den will create similar cells in different cities in the West Bank through social networks."

Events that drive change

As for the analyst in "Haaretz" newspaper, Ronit Marzan, wrote in an article on Monday: "These young men are different from those who participated in the uprising of individuals. They do not act out of despair, but out of hope."

Marzan added: "Most of them did not witness the second intifada (2000-2005), but for more than ten years they have been watching events that enhance their self-confidence and their belief in their ability to bring about change."

She pointed out that among these events are the electronic gates crisis in Jerusalem, the return marches and incendiary kites in the Gaza Strip, the night jamming units in Beta in the West Bank, the Saif al-Quds battle (Israel's war on Gaza in 2021), the escape of the six prisoners from Gilboa prison, and the daily confrontations in West Bank".

On Tuesday, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted unnamed Israeli military officials as saying that "the number of members of the lions' den does not exceed 30 people, and it is responsible for about 20 attacks."

"This is not a well-organised squad, but because of its proximity to the settlements, dealing with it is a challenge," the officials added.

The Nablus governorate, where the "Aren Al-Aswad" group is based, is surrounded by many Israeli settlements.

At dawn on Tuesday, the Israeli army carried out a large-scale operation in Nablus, which led to the "martyrdom of 5 and the wounding of 33 others," according to what the Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (non-governmental) announced.

The Ministry of Health also announced the "martyrdom of a citizen in the village of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah."

For its part, the army announced the raid of an apartment during a military operation in the old city of Nablus, "which was used as a factory to manufacture explosive devices for central activists of the Areen Al-Aswad group."

The army said: "During the operation, Wadih Houh, a resident of the Old City of Nablus, who led the Lair Al-Aswad group responsible for a series of operations against Israeli targets, was eliminated."

An atmosphere of anger pervaded the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, and Palestinian factions and student leaders announced a strike and an escalation of confrontation at points of contact with the Israeli army.

Since October 12, Nablus and its camps have been living under a tight siege imposed by the Israeli army, after one of its soldiers was shot dead by the "Lions of the Lions"