Dozens of masked men move through the old city of Nablus in the West Bank, a scene crowded with energy and tension. Clad head to toe in black, they carry themselves with a mix of pride and resolve. Foreheads bear maps of Palestine, the land stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. Arabic is visible in their eyes, and the label The Lining Battalion appears as a bold badge. The group numbers at most seventy young members, yet their message is unmistakable. They walk with the confidence of a lion’s den, a fierce symbol of resistance that echoes the shared purpose with another faction: resisting Israeli violence. In a region where fatalities keep tallying, more than 165 Palestinians have fallen to Israeli fire in occupied territories this year. In their communications, they insist that the enemy understands only the language of blood and bullets.
A few months earlier, Israeli gunfire struck leaders within this emerging circle. Some militants withdrew to Palestinian Authority lines out of fear for their lives. Israeli authorities at times described the Lion’s Den as a threat to neutralize, a claim tied to ongoing struggle. Last weekend, scores of men returned to the streets to remind onlookers that they remain active and continue to recruit new members. The wider context is marked by persistent violence in the West Bank since spring, with new militant bands appearing in parallel and compounding the toll. Armed assaults at checkpoints and against settlements carry signatures that bear the marks of groups such as the Balata Battalion, the Lion’s Den, or Black Cave.
ignorance
As the movement grows, public understanding lags. The phenomenon unsettles a country obsessed with security. Many members are young people who were born into the violence of the occupation and grew tired of it. Palestinian officials describe the Lion’s Den based in Nablus as originating from a small cadre of militants drawn from outside the mainstream parties. They emerged amid invasions by settlers, clashes with Israeli forces, and a sense of anger toward incursions that turned neighborhoods into battlegrounds. They are not formally affiliated with major Palestinian groups or the Palestinian Authority, which may help explain why they attract increasing public sympathy.
Recent posts from the region have depicted striking military displays, underscoring the gravity of the confrontation. The visuals emphasize a disciplined, cohesive force as fighters mobilize in public spaces, signaling readiness to confront ongoing hostilities. Observers note the pattern shows a wave of new actors in refugee camps and urban pockets around Nablus, places that have faced repeated military operations. The political purpose behind these groups appears focused on opposing the occupation and resisting daily violence rather than pursuing a conventional political program trading territory for peace. The year 2022 stands out as a particularly deadly period for Palestinians, with fatalities rising across the occupied territories and civilians increasingly bearing the brunt of the conflict. The tally includes fighters and noncombatants alike.
possible increase
In a rare moment, Mahmoud Abbas signaled a cautious distance from the new opposition wave, stating a stance of non-support for armed resistance while leaving room for potential shifts in the future. He acknowledged the frustration felt by many Palestinians who see oppression and suppression as driving forces behind the armed turn. Abbas has historically favored popular resistance over armed struggle, a stance that has sparked debate within his own movement and among the broader Palestinian public. A recent survey by a Palestinian policy institute shows that a significant portion of the population endorses militant actions against Israeli forces, illustrating a divide between leadership strategy and popular sentiment.
Speculation abounds about a possible third intifada as violence persists. Israeli military raids and mass arrests continue weekly, and settlers act with impunity in some areas. The formation of a government in Israel with a far-right tilt adds to a climate of heightened confrontation. While the arsenals of these youth-led groups lag behind the Israeli military, the sense of urgency among younger generations appears to be growing. For many, the perception is clear: if the status quo endures, the pressure will push more people toward direct action.