Lions' Den (militant group)

{{Infobox war faction

| name = Lions' Den

| caption = Logo used by Lions' Den

| image = Lions' Den.png

| logo_size = 210px

| founders = Mohammed al-Azizi{{KIA}}
Abdel Rahman Suboh{{KIA}}
Abdul Hakim Shaheen{{KIA}}

| foundation = July 2022

| headquarters = Nablus, West Bank, Palestine{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/26/who-are-the-lions-den-armed-group-in-occupied-west-bank-explainer|title=Who are the Lions' Den armed group in the occupied West Bank? |website=www.aljazeera.com}}

| size = ~100 (according to Palestinian security sources in 2022){{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-718244|title=New Palestinian militia Lions' Den, behind attacks on soldiers, settlers|work=The Jerusalem Post}}

| allies = {{flag|Hamas}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-730571|title=PA arrests lawyer suspected of funding Lions' Den terror group|website=The Jerusalem Post}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/the-lions-den-terrorist-group-raises-its-head-again/|title=The Lions' Den terrorist group raises its head again|website=JNS.org|date=2023-10-08}}
Nablus Brigade
Other West Bank militias

| opponents = {{unbulleted list|

{{flag|Israel}}
{{flag|Palestinian Authority}}

}}

| battles = {{tree list}}

}}

The Lions' Den ({{langx|ar|عرين الأسود|translit=ʿArīn al-ʾUsud}}) is a Palestinian militant group operating in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The group emerged in August 2022, a year of increased violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and takes its moniker from its co-founder{{Cite news |last=Kingsley |first=Patrick |date=2022-09-16 |title=Killing of Young Gunman Highlights Shifts in Fast-Changing West Bank |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/world/middleeast/ibrahim-al-nabulsi-west-bank-violence.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-30 |title=The story of Palestinian 'martyr' Ibrahim al-Nabulsi |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/09/30/the-story-of-palestinian-martyr-ibrahim-al-nabulsi_5998643_4.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |language=en}} Ibrahim al-Nablusi, a prominent militant from Nablus, nicknamed "The Lion of Nablus", who was killed in an Israeli raid.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/10/25/four-palestinians-killed-in-israeli-raid-in-west-bank_6001632_4.html|title=Four Palestinians killed in Israeli raid in West Bank|website=Le Monde |date=October 25, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/lions-den/|title=Lions' Den – Mapping Palestinian Politics – European Council on Foreign Relations|date=October 10, 2022}} It comprises members of other Palestinian militant organizations,{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2022-09-14/ty-article/.highlight/2022-already-the-deadliest-year-for-west-bank-palestinians-in-7-years/00000183-3177-d6c9-a197-797f257d0000|title=2022 Already the Deadliest Year for West Bank Palestinians in 7 Years|quote=A newly established group in Nablus called the Lions' Den, for example, consists of hundreds of young people from different Palestinian groups who take part in shootings on IDF forces.}} traditionally opposed by Fatah, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and disaffected members of Fatah, mainly young and secular.{{Cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |last2=Yazbek |first2=Hiba |date=2023-03-04 |title=In West Bank, New Armed Groups Emerge, and Dormant Ones Stir |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/world/middleeast/west-bank-lions-den.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0362-4331}} The group is reportedly based in the Old City of Nablus.{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Armed upstart Lion's Den challenges IDF bid to crack down on Nablus terror |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/armed-upstart-lions-den-challenges-idf-bid-to-crack-down-on-nablus-terror/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |work=The Times of Israel}}

The organization was founded by a 25-year-old Palestinian named Mohammed al-Azizi, more commonly known as "Abu Saleh", and his friend Abdel Rahman Suboh, or "Abu Adam", 28 years old. They were both killed in fighting in July 2022.{{Cite news |title=New Palestinian militia Lions' Den, behind attacks on soldiers, settlers |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-718244 |access-date=2022-10-20 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}{{Cite news |title=Fatah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad join forces to fight against IDF |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-719809 |access-date=2022-10-20 |work=The Jerusalem Post}} The group has experienced a rise in popularity among Palestinians in the West Bank, spurred by mounting frustration with the over 50 year old Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the seeming permanence of Israeli settlements and an accompanying increasing Israeli settler violence, along with ineffective governance by the Palestinian Authority.

The group has experienced a rise in popularity among Palestinians in the West Bank, regularly sharing videos of their attacks on TikTok and Telegram. Their TikTok account was suspended in October 2022,{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=TikTok bans account of Palestinian armed group behind West Bank shootings |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/tiktok-bans-account-of-palestinian-armed-group-behind-west-bank-shootings/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |work=Times of Israel}} leading the group to publish the rest of their videos to their Telegram account, which holds 238,000 subscribers as of 24 February 2023.

Background

2022 was the deadliest year in the West Bank for Palestinians since 2015, mostly focused on Nablus and Jenin. There has been a notable rise in violence by extremist Jewish settlers. Following the killing of an Israeli soldier on 11 October 2022, for which the Lions' Den claimed responsibility, Nablus is under a tight siege which Palestinians protest as collective punishment.{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Soldier killed in shooting attack while securing settler march in northern West Bank |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-hurt-by-gunfire-while-securing-settler-march-in-northern-west-bank/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/25/briefing/your-wednesday-briefing-tensions-rise-in-the-west-bank.html|title=Your Wednesday Briefing: Tensions Rise in the West Bank|first=Amelia|last=Nierenberg|website=The New York Times |date=October 25, 2022}}

Funding

The group receives undisclosed amounts of funds from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.{{Cite news |last=Kingsley |first=Patrick |last2=Yazbek |first2=Hiba |date=2023-03-04 |title=In West Bank, New Armed Groups Emerge, and Dormant Ones Stir |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/world/middleeast/west-bank-lions-den.html |access-date=2023-11-22 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=The Jenin Brigades and The Lions' Den: Palestine's new resistance |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/phenomenon-jenin-brigades-and-lions-den |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}File:مقر مجموعات عرين الأسود.jpg

History

Lions' Den grew out of the related Nablus Brigade.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=Lions’ Den |url=https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/lions-den/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=European Council on Foreign Relations |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Heupner |first=Susan de Groot |date=2023-02-01 |title=Why the violence between Israel and the Palestinians may be entering a devastating new phase |url=https://theconversation.com/why-the-violence-between-israel-and-the-palestinians-may-be-entering-a-devastating-new-phase-198788 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} Ibrahim al-Nabulsi was a co-founder of both groups.{{Cite news |last=Kingsley |first=Patrick |date=2022-09-16 |title=Killing of Young Gunman Highlights Shifts in Fast-Changing West Bank |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/world/middleeast/ibrahim-al-nabulsi-west-bank-violence.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-30 |title=The story of Palestinian 'martyr' Ibrahim al-Nabulsi |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/09/30/the-story-of-palestinian-martyr-ibrahim-al-nabulsi_5998643_4.html |access-date=2025-03-03 |language=en}} Lions' Den was first identified by Palestinian media in August 2022, when it claimed responsibility for an attack on IDF soldiers in Rujeib, West Bank.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=A Newly Established Militant Organization in the West Bank Claims Several Attacks |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2022/09/a-newly-established-militant-organization-in-the-west-bank-claims-several-attacks.php |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.longwarjournal.org |language=en-US}} The group then held a rally in Nablus in September, honouring two Palestinian Islamic Jihad members who had been killed in July. The same month, Israeli police said that they had foiled a plan by the group to carry out a large-scale attack in southern Tel Aviv, and arrested a suspect trying to enter the city carrying two pipe bombs and a submachine gun.{{Cite news |title=Palestinian planned mass bombing, shooting attack in Tel Aviv |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-716665 |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}

The Palestinian Authority also made an arrest of an individual associated with the group in Nablus,{{Cite news |title=New Palestinian militia Lions' Den, behind attacks on soldiers, settlers |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-718244 |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=The Jerusalem Post}} resulting in clashes between hundreds of militants and security forces, and one civilian being shot and killed by the PA force.{{Cite news |title=Palestinian factions in Nablus battle one with gunfights, tear gas |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-717580 |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} In late September, shots were fired at the Israeli settlement of Har Bracha and a nearby military post, and the Lions' Den claimed responsibility.{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Shots fired at West Bank settlement, IDF post near Nablus; no injuries |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/shots-fired-at-west-bank-settlement-idf-post-near-nablus-no-injuries/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}} A Lions' Den member was later killed in an IDF ambush.{{Cite news |title=IDF troops ambush terrorists near Nablus, killing one |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-718109 |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}

In October, a taxi and bus were shot at by militants near Elon Moreh in the West Bank, injuring the taxi driver. A demonstration by local Israeli settlers to protest the incident was attacked with gunfire, wounding a soldier. The Lions' Den claimed responsibility for the incidents.{{Cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |last2=staff |first2=T. O. I. |title=Gunmen target taxi, bus in West Bank terror attack; 1 lightly injured |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gunmen-target-taxi-bus-in-west-bank-suspected-terror-attack-1-lightly-injured/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}}{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Soldier lightly wounded in West Bank shooting; IDF: Civilians also targeted |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-lightly-hurt-in-west-bank-shooting-after-earlier-attack-nearby/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}} Shots were also fired at Israeli troops near Itamar and Beita, but nobody was harmed.{{Cite news |last=staff |first=T. O. I. |title=IDF says shots fired at troops in northern West Bank; no injuries |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-shots-fired-at-troops-in-northern-west-bank-no-injuries/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}}

An IDF raid on 5 October to find the suspects of the earlier attacks resulted in the arrest a member of the group and one militant being killed.{{Cite news |last1=staff |first1=T. O. I. |last2=Fabian |first2=Emanuel |title=Suspect in West Bank shooting attack arrested, Palestinian gunman killed in clashes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspect-in-west-bank-shooting-attack-arrested-palestinian-gunman-killed-in-clashes/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Times of Israel}} Israeli settlers held a demonstration on 11 October in Jerusalem to protest the recent attacks. A 21-year-old Israeli soldier who had been assigned to defend the group was shot and killed, and the Lions' Den claimed responsibility.

Israeli media reported in mid-October that Prime Minister Yair Lapid, alternate prime minister Naftali Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz along with the heads of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet, met to discuss the group and the recent escalations in the West Bank.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-719827|title=Israel's security establishment heads hold meeting about Lions' Den|date = 16 October 2022| access-date = 31 March 2023|work=The Jerusalem Post}} On 18 October, another member of the group was arrested by the IDF. On 23 October, another member of the Lions' Den, was killed by a bomb planted on a motorcycle in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/23/israel-kills-palestinian-top-member-of-armed-group-in-west-bank|title=Israel accused of killing Palestinian fighter in West Bank|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=23 October 2022}}

= Assassinations =

On 25 October 2022, Israeli soldiers raided an apartment in Nablus allegedly in use by the group as a headquarters. Three Lions' Den militants were killed, including leader and co-founder Wadee al-Houh. Two Palestinian civilians were also killed in the nearby areas. Protests erupted in the town of Nabi Saleh hours after the raid, resulting in a Palestinian man being killed by Israeli soldiers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63383854|title=Six killed as Israel targets militants in West Bank raid|work=BBC News|date=25 October 2022|access-date = 31 March 2023}}

In February 2023, Israeli soldiers conducted a military incursion into the Palestinian city of Nablus.{{Cite news|title=Israeli forces kill 10 Palestinians in Nablus raid|work=Al Jazeera|date=22 March 2023|language=en|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/22/israeli-forces-kill-palestinians-in-nablus-raid|access-date=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222103227/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/22/israeli-forces-kill-palestinians-in-nablus-raid|url-status=live}} The initial targets were Lions' Den members Husam Bassam Isleem (24) and Muhammad Omar “Juneidi” Abu Bakr (23), who were shot and killed. Five other group members were also killed during firefight in the city. Four Palestinian civilians, including three elderly men and a boy, were also killed by the Israeli soldiers.{{cite web|first=Mariam|last=Barghouti|url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/02/nablus-mourns-following-israeli-invasion-that-tore-city-and-lives-apart/|title=Nablus mourns following Israeli invasion that tore city and lives apart|work=Mondoweiss|date=24 February 2023|access-date=24 February 2023}}

= Execution of an alleged traitor =

Following the assassinations in February 2023, Lions' Den executed one of their members for allegedly sharing information with the Israeli security services that led to the deaths of several leaders of the group. The young man had been bribed and blackmailed by Shin Bet, allegedly using a video of him having sex with a male partner.{{cite news| title=Palestinian terror group Lion's Den claims it executed an Israeli spy in Nablus |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-terror-group-lions-den-claims-it-executed-an-israeli-spy-in-nablus/ | access-date=3 June 2024 | date=9 April 2023}}{{cite news| title=Lions' Den execute man accused of informing for Israel |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/lions-den-execute-man-accused-informing-israel |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=The New Arab (London) |date=10 April 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news| last1=Amun |first1=Fadi |title=Militant group Lion's Den announces execution of Palestinian for collaborating with Israel |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-04-09/ty-article/.premium/lions-den-announces-execution-of-palestinian-for-collaborating-with-israel/00000187-665c-dde0-afb7-7e5fd87e0000 |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=Haaretz |date=9 April 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Fearing Israeli retaliation, Lions' Den chief turns himself in to PA |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/palestinian-territories/1682662151-fearing-israeli-retaliation-lions-den-chief-turns-himself-in-to-pa |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=I24news |date=28 April 2023 |language=en}}

= 2023–present Gaza war =

Lions' Den has been reported to be largely dormant since the summer of 2023.{{Cite web |title=Profiles of 28 Iran-Backed Terrorist Groups and Branches in the West Bank |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/westbankterrorgroups |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=FDD's Long War Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=6 June 2024 |title=US announces sanctions on largely dormant West Bank terror group Lions’ Den |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-announces-sanctions-on-largely-dormant-west-bank-terror-group-lions-den/ |website=The Times of Israel}}

However, in April 2024, according to Palestinian media, the group conducted shooting attacks at Israeli forces at a checkpoint near Nablus.{{Cite web |title=Sanctioning Violent Palestinian Group in the West Bank |url=https://www.state.gov/sanctioning-violent-palestinian-group-in-the-west-bank/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}

On June 6, 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Lions' Den, declaring it as a threat to peace and stability in the West Bank. The sanctions include freezing of any assets the group holds under U.S. jurisdiction and barring Americans from dealing with the group.[https://www.reuters.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-palestinian-group-lions-den-over-west-bank-violence-2024-06-06/ US imposes sanctions on Palestinian group Lions Den], Reuters, June 6, 2024