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Lions’ Den

Type:

Pro-Palestinian militant group
Formation:

2022
Leader:

Musab Shtayyeh

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Lions’ Den is a militant Palestinian group centered in the Old City of Nablus in the West Bank that wages guerilla warfare against the State of Israel in the disputed Palestinian territories. 1 It has also planned attacks within the 1948 armistice lines that most countries recognize as Israeli territory proper. 2 It is an ad-hoc alliance between several youth militant groups that oppose Israel and fights against Israeli soldiers and civilians. Lions’ Den is primarily composed of approximately 100 gunmen and militants from the Fatah militant nationalist faction within the Palestinian territories. The group markets itself through social media, including TikTok and Telegram. 3

The Lions’ Den is believed to be responsible for several shooting attacks against Israeli military officers and civilians in the northern West Bank. It is not considered to be as well organized or armed as other Palestinian terrorist groups, such as Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Political analysts have suggested that Israel’s defensive military operations in Gaza and the West Bank have ignited the rise of militant resistance groups like the Lions’ Den. 3

Lions’ Den has expressed as its central aim the resistance of Israeli forces at checkpoints, military stations, and settlements despite meeting resistance from the Palestinian Authority (PA), the ruling political body in the West Bank, which has arrested several Lions’ Den fighters. 4 Although the Lions’ Den seemed to go dormant as an operable militant force in 2023, the United States leveled sanctions against the group in 2024. 5 There have been allegations of its resurgence after its flag was seen waving during a 2025 New Year’s celebration in Toronto, Canada. 6

Background

Lions’ Den became a prominent militant organization after targeting Israeli military and civilian targets in 2022 in response to several of its members being killed by Israeli forces, including Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, Islam Sabbath, Ashraf Mubaslat, Mohammad Dakhil, and Adham Mabrouka. These Lions’ Den members were killed in two operations, and in response, they shot and killed IDF Staff Sergeant Ido Baruch of the Givati infantry brigade’s reconnaissance unit. In retaliation for Baruch’s killing, the Israeli government began a series of operations in Lions’ Den hotspots within the northern West Bank to find and kill or capture Lions’ Den operatives. 7

Since August 2022, Lions’ Den has claimed responsibility for over 100 targeted shootings and small militant offensives against Israeli soldiers and civilians. The group also communicates heavily over social media, particularly Telegram, to call Palestinians to general strikes, protests, and days of rage against Israeli officers and officials. 2

Connections to Other Palestinian Militant Groups

According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, Lions’ Den does not appear to have any formal ties with established factions. According to the ECFR, Lions’ Den is thought to have grown out of a local umbrella group comprising Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, Fatah‘s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and Hamas‘ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades known as the Nablus Battalion. The Lions’ Den likely still benefits from coordination and cooperation with these groups. Many of the group’s members appear to have family ties to Fatah, the nationalist militant wing within the Palestinian territories. 1

Some claim that unaffiliated groups, such as the Lions’ Den, are a new phenomenon. Rather than aligning with an existing Palestinian faction, the Lions’ Den mobilizes youth fighters from any anti-Israeli faction within the West Bank to further its mission of attacking and killing Israeli soldiers and civilians. One of the Lions’ Den founders, Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, claimed in a video before his death that he was affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a Jenin-based, Fatah nationalist militant wing. 8 9

Lions’ Den remains an independent, ad-hoc coalition of Palestinian militants who coordinate with other factions while ultimately operating on its own. The Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs contends Lions’ Den has received financial support from Hamas, which also supports the group through its media and social networks. 2 While Lions’ Den receives this support from the other major militant factions in the West Bank and other disputed Palestinian territories, it has expressed its rejection of inter-faction fighting and the political and military limitations of those groups. 4

The Lions’ Den is opposed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), the de facto government within Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank. The PA has arrested several Lions’ Den combatants and has even received military aid and training from the United States to suppress violent resistance in the West Bank and calm tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. As of 2023, the PA was supposed to train 5,000 security personnel in Jordan with American aid to eventually deploy in the northern West Bank to fight the armed terrorist groups and disarm them. The main target of this United States-PA training was Lions’ Den. 2

A popular Instagram account by the name “Let’s Talk Palestine” expressed its support for the Lions’ Den against the PA in a July 2023 post. The post claimed that the Lions’ Den “has challenged the corrupt Palestinian Authority, presenting a new model of leadership: Decentralised and youth-led, uniting members of all parties and factions.” The post also glorified the Lions’ Den’s short-term goals of committing violence against Israeli military checkpoints and settlements. 10

2022 Israeli Soldier Killing

On October 11, 2022, Abdel Kamel Jouri and Osama Taweel, members of the Lions’ Den terror group, opened fire at Staff Sgt. Ido Baruch of the Givati infantry brigade’s reconnaissance unit, killing him. Baruch was shot by the gunmen while securing a march held by settlers near the Palestinian town of Sebastia. He was stationed by an interchange close to the nearby settlement of Shavei Shomron. Following Baruch’s killing, Israeli forces announced sweeping operations against Lions’ Den throughout the northern West Bank. 11 12

Jouri and Taweel were arrested on February 13, 2023, and a third member of the Lions’ Den cell who allegedly helped plan the attack was killed in an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raid on Nablus a week later. In April 2023, the IDF notified Jouri’s family that it planned to raze their home to the ground. This followed a March 2023 notice to Taweel’s family that IDF forces planned to seize and destroy their home as well. 7

Antifa Support

Lions’ Den has received support from the United States-based radical-left anarchist Antifa movement through the actions of individual Antifa groups. 13 14

In November 2023, the Antifa, anarcho-communist, California-based Bay Rage Brigade (BRB) went on a vandalism spree to express its support for the violent militant groups operating in the disputed Palestinian territories. BRB committed four distinct acts of vandalism in the San Francisco Bay-area, selecting financial, military, corporate, and technology targets for its vandalism. The group claimed that the American financial, military, corporate, and technology sectors are among the most prominent financiers and supporters of what it considers Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. BRB thus destroyed property in the name of the Palestinian people, and in particular, in support of the Lions’ Den. In a post-vandalism manifesto, BRB expressed its support for political violence against the State of Israel, claiming, “[a]s our brothers the Lions’ Den said, ‘The talking after 11:00 [on the first night of the offensive] is only for takbeers and bullets.’” 13

On October 17, 2023, prominent Antifa group Black Rose Anarchist Federation conducted an interview with Fauda, an anarchist terrorist group in the West Bank with connections to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) that has claimed to be involved in attacks on Israelis. 14 15 During the interview, the Black Rose Anarchist Federation suggested that Lions’ Den was a promising new resistance group that could bring hope to the anti-Israel militant movement. Fauda agreed that the Lions’ Den is a promising group and urged more youth-led anarchist and militant groups to oppose the state of Israel “to combat Zionism, liberate Palestine, and restore our freedom.” 14

Palestinian Support

In October 2022, Hani Al-Masri, the director general of Masarat, the Palestinian Centre for Policy Research and Strategic Studies (PCPRSS), wrote an opinion piece in the Middle East Eye expressing his support for Lions’ Den as a new form of resistance, unencumbered by the infighting of other armed resistance groups. 16

In January 2023, the Voice of America (VOA) reported that many Palestinians view Lions’ Den heroically, exalting the group’s militants and fallen combatants as freedom fighters and martyrs across the Palestinian territories. VOA reported that the youth-led militant movement Lions’ Den was an inspiration to young men and children in the West Bank to continue committing violence against Israeli soldiers and civilians. Palestinians in the West Bank blame tension and violence on Israeli raids in cities such as Nablus which they say inspires more resistance from militant groups like the Lions’ Den. Nablus Mayor Sami Hijjawi normalized the Lions’ Den’s violence, claiming that resistance will only increase as Israeli forces apply more pressure. VOA reported that the Israeli government considers the Lions’ Den a terrorist organization that is backed by Iran. 17

Dormancy and United States Sanctions

In October 2022, the Lions’ Den’s TikTok account was banned from the platform, forcing the militant group to spread its message and footage of its attacks mostly through Telegram. 18 By the summer of 2023, Lions’ Den was reported to be mostly dormant as many of its militants had been arrested or killed by Palestinian Authority security forces and Israeli forces. 19

However, unconfirmed reports from April 2024 suggested that Lions’ Den resurfaced during a 2024 drive-by shooting that targeted Israeli forces with small arms at an Israeli checkpoint in Nablus. 20 Following this report, the United States announced sanctions against Lions’ Den in June 2024, an act that some saw as an empty display of support for Israel considering the report was unconfirmed and the group appeared largely dormant. 19 Still, the United States imposed sanctions that froze any assets the group held under United States jurisdiction and barred Americans from dealing with the group, although it was unclear if the Lions’ Den held any such assets or connections. 5

Although other Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), have been designated under more stringent American counterterrorism authorities, the Biden administration pursued only sanctions against the Lions’ Den. 5

In January 2025, President Donald Trump dropped several sanctions against individuals and groups in the Middle East by executive order, including against the Lions’ Den. President Trump claimed the revocation of sanctions was part of a larger process of undoing what he called “harmful” executive orders issued under the Biden administration. 21

Alleged Resurgence in 2025

During a pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian demonstration on January 2, 2025 in downtown Toronto, Canada, rooftop demonstrators waved the Lions’ Den flag emblazoned with two M-4 rifles. Toronto Police were investigating the situation under the hate crimes division as of January 2025. 22

Leadership

Although the Lions’ Den is an ad-hoc militant group, there were several notable fighters who founded the group, including Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi, Tamir Al-Kilani, Adham Mabrouk Al-Shishani, Mohammad Al-Dakhil, and Ashraf Mubaslat, all of whom were killed by Israeli forces. 1 2

Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi was a founding member of the Lions’ Den. In August 2022, Al-Nabulsi had been on the run for months but was surrounded in a building by Israeli forces. A gunfight ensued, killing Al-Nabulsi, three other Palestinian militants, and injuring 60 others. Al-Nabulsi became a central figure for the burgeoning Lions’ Den group which saw him as a martyr. Before helping found the Lions’ Den, Al-Nabulsi was a fighter and commander in the Al-Aqsa Brigades. 23

Tamir Al-Kilani was a founding member of the Lions’ Den. In October 2022, Al-Kilani was killed in an explosion in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers. The group described Al-Kilani as one of its “fiercest fighters.” In response to Kilani’s death, Lions’ Den called for a general strike in the West Bank and open resistance against Israeli officials and officers. 24

Adham Mabrouk Al-Shishani, Mohammad Al-Dakhil, and Ashraf Mubaslat were co-founders of the Lions’ Den who were all killed in the same attack by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. On February 8, 2023, IDF special forces shot the three Lions’ Den leaders dead in their vehicle. 1 4 The Palestinian Authority (PA), although in opposition to Lions’ Den, condemned the killings, calling it a “heinous crime.” Israel said the three men were Palestinian “militants” who were responsible for recent shooting attacks. 25

Musab Shtayyeh is among the few living Lions’ Den leaders. Shtayyeh is among several Lions’ Den members who have been arrested by the PA. 4 He was arrested in September 2022 which sparked protests by his fellow Lions’ Den combatants. 26

References

  1. “Lions’ Den.” European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed January 27, 2024.  https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/lions-den/
  2. Menachem, Yoni Ben. “The Lions’ Den Terrorist Group Has Raised Its Head Again.” Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA). March 29, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://jcpa.org/the-lions-den-terrorist-group-has-raised-its-head-again/
  3. “What do we know about Palestinian resistance group the Lions’ Den?” TRT World Now. YouTube. October 25, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gZYn_-L_o4
  4.  “Who are the Lions’ Den armed group in the occupied West Bank?” Al Jazeera. October 26, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/26/who-are-the-lions-den-armed-group-in-occupied-west-bank-explainer
  5. Lewis, Simon. “US imposes sanctions on Palestinian group Lions’ Den over West Bank violence.” Reuters. June 6, 2024. Accessed January 27, 2024.  https://www.reuters.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-palestinian-group-lions-den-over-west-bank-violence-2024-06-06/
  6. Warmington, Joe. “WARMINGTON: New Palestinian terror group’s flag displayed New Year’s Eve in Toronto.” Toronto Sun. January 2, 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025.  https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-new-palestinian-terror-groups-flag-displayed-new-years-eve-in-toronto
  7. Fabian, Emmanuel. “IDF to demolish homes of Lions’ Den gunmen accused of killing soldier last year.” Times of Israel. April 28, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-to-demolish-homes-of-lions-den-gunmen-accused-of-killing-soldier-last-year/
  8. Alshaer, Nadeen. Jerusalem 24. October 11, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2024. https://jerusalem.24fm.ps/17378.html
  9. “Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) – Fatah.” European Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/al_aqsa_martyrs_brigades_amb_fatah/
  10.  “Let’s Talk Palestine Post.” Instagram. June 25, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct6Wxi4tJhC/?img_index=9
  11.  Fabian, Emanuel. “Palestinian killed as troops nab Lions’ Den gunmen accused of killing soldier.” Times of Israel. February 13, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-killed-as-troops-nab-lions-den-gunmen-accused-of-killing-soldier/
  12. Fabian, Emanuel. “IDF to demolish homes of Lions’ Den gunmen accused of killing soldier last year.” Times of Israel. April 28, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-to-demolish-homes-of-lions-den-gunmen-accused-of-killing-soldier-last-year/
  13. “Four Targets Attacked for Palestine: BRB Part 4.” IndyBay. November 4, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2023/11/04/18860042.php
  14. “Voices from the Front Line Against the Occupation: Interview with Palestinian Anarchists.” Black Rose/Rosa Negra Anarchist Federation. October 17, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.blackrosefed.org/interview-fauda-palestine/
  15. “Interviews with Fauda: The Anarchist Movement in Palestine.” Anarchist Agency. December 3, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://anarchistagency.com/interviews-with-fauda-the-anarchist-movement-in-palestine/
  16. “Open Society Institute – 2013 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137029285/201423189349101912/IRS990PF
  17. Gradstein, Linda. “Palestinians View ‘Lions’ Den’ Militants as Heroes.” VOA. January 12, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.voanews.com/a/palestinians-viewing-lion-s-den-militants-as-heroes/6915900.html
  18. “Gag rule on Palestinians continues, TikTok joins ban policy.” MR Online. October 15, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://mronline.org/2022/10/18/gag-rule-on-palestinians-continues-tiktok-joins-ban-policy/
  19. Magid, Jacob. “US announces sanctions on largely dormant West Bank terror group Lions’ Den.” Times of Israel. June 6, 2024. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-announces-sanctions-on-largely-dormant-west-bank-terror-group-lions-den/
  20. Kelly, Laura. “US sanctions armed West Bank Palestinian group ‘Lions’ Den.’” The Hill. June 6, 2024. Accessed January 27, 2024. https://thehill.com/policy/international/4708039-us-sanctions-palestinian-group-lions-den/
  21. “US drops Judea, Samaria residents from sanctions list.” Columbus Jewish News. January 25, 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/us-drops-judea-samaria-residents-from-sanctions-list/article_51e2c3cd-7f2d-5aa5-a57d-5aea28891371.html
  22. Warmington, Joe. “WARMINGTON: New Palestinian terror group’s flag displayed New Year’s Eve in Toronto.” Toronto Sun. January 2, 2025. Accessed Janaury 27, 2025.  https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-new-palestinian-terror-groups-flag-displayed-new-years-eve-in-toronto
  23. “Israeli forces kill al-Aqsa Brigades commander in Nablus raid.” Al Jazeera. August 9, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/9/israel-kill-palestinian-al-aqsa-brigades-commander-nablus
  24. “Israel accused of killing Palestinian fighter in West Bank.” Al Jazeera. October 23, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/23/israel-kills-palestinian-top-member-of-armed-group-in-west-bank
  25. “Israeli soldiers open fire at car in Nablus killing Palestinians.” Al Jazeera. February 8, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/8/israel-troops-kill-three-palestinians-in-occupied-west-bank
  26. “Shtayyeh’s family holds PA accountable for his life.” Al Mayadeen, English. September 20, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/shtayyehs-family-holds-pa-accountable-for-his-life
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