At least five Palestinians were killed and about 20 others were wounded in clashes with the Israeli army during a nighttime operation in Nablus, in the northern West Bank. The early hours of Tuesday saw intense confrontations as Israeli forces moved through the old city, with gunfire and explosions reported by witnesses.
A Red Crescent emergency manager in Nablus, Ahmed Jibril, said medical teams treated more than 20 people and transported the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent care. The clashes underscored the volatility of the operation as residents described the scene before dawn.
Wafa News Agency reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) came under attack as they raided several neighborhoods in the old city after what authorities described as a bombardment. Eyewitnesses heard gunshots and explosions as the operation unfolded.
Israeli soldiers reportedly received additional reinforcements and relied on drones to maintain pressure during the mission, according to Wafa.
The army was accused of firing on Palestinian security forces and of blocking emergency crews from reaching wounded individuals, according to subsequent statements and on-the-ground accounts.
IDF officials announced they had raided an apartment they attributed to the Palestinian armed group La Guarida del León, noting they were conducting a nighttime operation in Nablus without providing further details. The army said a joint force entered a secret apartment used as a base for operators tied to the Lion’s Den network, which the authorities describe as a terrorist infrastructure.
The Israeli Armed Forces claimed large numbers of Palestinians were shot during the operation and described the location as an explosive lab that was detonated by Israeli units.
The IDF statement added that during the raid, dozens of Palestinians burned tires and hurled stones, while protesters opened fire on security forces, which the army said was part of the threat they faced.
Officials asserted that the group in question was responsible for various attacks, including a recent shooting that killed an Israeli soldier. They also stated on social media that the operation aimed to disrupt planned bomb attacks in Har Bracha, to throw grenades at troops, and to target Nablus for future assaults.
In the days leading up to the operation, the Lion’s Den—an emerging network active mainly in the West Bank—was implicated in several assaults against Israeli personnel and civilians. The group later condemned the death of a top commander, Tamer Kilani, who was killed in what authorities described as a sticky bomb attack linked to Israeli operations.
Emergency response!
In the early hours of Tuesday, Palestinian officials warned of further offenses by Israeli forces and urged protection for civilians. The cabinet called on the United Nations and other international human rights bodies to intervene urgently and to halt the aggression, as described by Wafa in coverage of the briefing. The statement noted that recent actions in Nablus had so far left three people dead and many injured.
Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina confirmed from the Palestinian presidency that urgent contact had been opened to press for an end to the aggression. He characterized the operation as a war crime and criticized the Jerusalem government for its handling of the situation.
President Mahmoud Abbas has described the current circumstances as an apartheid-era scenario and challenged international leaders, including the United States, to apply consistent standards and intervene to halt the occupation. He urged immediate action to stop the aggression and protect Palestinian rights, as stated by his office spokesman.
The Fatah movement, participating in the condolences for those killed, pledged to stand firm against occupation and to defend the legitimate national and historical rights of the Palestinian people. It called for unity and warned against letting the conflict spill into internal disputes or be exploited by occupiers to drive escalation.
General strike for victims
Local authorities announced a general strike on Tuesday to mourn the lives lost in Nablus and to protest the latest fatalities. The Nablus governorate declared Tuesday a day of anger and a cabinet-wide strike as communities observed the losses with somber demonstrations across the West Bank, asserting solidarity with the victims and denouncing what many described as persistent international silence.
Demonstrators in several cities gathered to condemn the attack and to honor the martyrs, while demanding stronger protections for Palestinians and increased international oversight of the situation.
New death near Ramallah
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported another fatality in the morning, noting that a resident died from gunshot injuries sustained during clashes at the Nabi Saleh entrance, north of Ramallah, roughly 80 kilometers from Nablus. With this death, the toll for the day rose to six across the Palestinian territories as clashes continued in various locations.