Across the Palestinian territories, thousands protest in support of Lion’s Den terror group

Last night and again this morning, thousands of Palestinians protested in support of Nablus after an IDF anti-terror operation in the city led to 11 dead and over 100 wounded on Wednesday morning.

Israel Defense Forces entered the West Bank city on Wednesday morning in an attempt to arrest members of the Lion’s Den terror group for their participation in terror attacks..

Throughout the night and into the morning, marches took place in Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm and the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem. Protests were also reported in the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem, the Qalandia crossing and the a-Tur area.

Local Palestinians could be seen burning tires and shouting cries of ‘Allahu Akbar,’ as well as praise for the Lion’s Den.

According to Channel 12 news, the protesters responded to calls from the terror group to show their support and to “let the world know that the Lion's Den and the resistance are ready for a fast reprisal.”

استجابة لنداء "عرين الأسود".. آلاف المقدسيين يخرجون إلى الشوارعhttps://t.co/Axm4K4Ko8J pic.twitter.com/ah6ObYlt06

— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) February 24, 2023

There was an unusual expressed of unity in support of the Lion’s Den among the various terror groups, raising concerns that increased tensions may lead unified cooperation, which, in turn, could lead to another intifada (Arabic for uprising).

Those fears appeared justified in light of comments made by Hamas leadership.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called the protests an emerging intifada and said the Palestinian people will not allow it to be quashed.

“We salute the people who came out in all locations in response to the massacre in Nablus,” Haniyeh said. “We stand proudly in the face of the crowds who shouted the voices of truth and declared that resistance is destiny, not an option. The battle with the enemy will lead to severe violence in order to break the occupiers and expel them from the country.”

“Our people and their courageous and bold resistance will not allow anyone to abort their escalating uprising,” he said.

Some Palestinian officials told N12 news under anonymity that they were concerned that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is losing the trust of the Palestinian people and that the PA itself is weakening. 

They believe the riots, marches and lack of law enforcement in the PA indicates a loss of authority and respect for Abbas and his ruling Fatah party.

Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that Israel will continue to take a firm approach.

“We will be crippled by terrorism everywhere until we exterminate it,” Gallant said during a tour of the Nablus sector and the IDF’s Samaria Regional Division on Thursday.