Reactions to the IDF Activity in Nablus (February 22, 2023)

Overview

• On February 22, 2023, the Israeli security forces operated in Nablus to detain three wanted Palestinians. The activity developed into extensive riots and exchanges of gunfire with armed terrorists throughout the city. Eleven Palestinians were killed, most of them armed, and more than 100 were wounded. The events were widely covered by the Palestinian and international media, most of them referring to them as a “slaughter.”
• An examination of the names of the Palestinian fatalities revealed that six of them were Lion’s Den operatives, with three of them also belonging to organized terrorist organizations; no organizational affiliation could be found for the remaining five.
• The unusually large operation was one the Israeli security forces’ ongoing activities, mainly in northern Samaria, to prevent terrorist networks from carrying out attacks. Recently, in the wake of the Palestinian appeal to the Security Council, Israelis and Americans held contacts with the Palestinian leadership to calm the situation.
• Threats of response came from the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including from a Hamas spokesman and the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). During the early morning hours of February 23, 2023, six rockets were fired at Israel’s south. A Hamas spokesman claimed the rocket fire, the demonstrations in the Gaza Strip and the clashes near the border security fence restored the “equation” of Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021). In response to the rocket fire Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip; during the attack the Palestinians fired anti-aircraft weapons at the planes. (In August 2022, Operation Breaking Dawn was triggered by the deaths of ten Palestinians in Jenin during an Israeli security force operation to prevent terrorist attacks.)
• Unlike previous attacks from the Gaza Strip, apparently this time Hamas was also involved in the rocket fire. With the Muslim religious month of Ramadan on the horizon, rocket fire, the statement from the spokesman of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing and the mention of the “equation” of Operation Guardian of the Walls all indicate the connection the terrorist organizations, especially Hamas, are trying to make between the Gaza Strip and the events in Judea and Samaria. The terrorist organizations’ spokesmen deliberately linked the “unity of the fronts,” events in Judea and Samaria and escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Further Information

The Israeli security force activity in Nablus

• On the afternoon of February 22, 2023, Israeli security forces entered Nablus to detain three Palestinians wanted for involvement in shooting attacks in the past and who had plans for attacks in immediate future. The forces surrounded the building where the three were located and called on them to surrender; they refused. One of them tried to escape and was shot and killed. The building was attacked with missiles, causing it to collapse and kill the two remaining terrorists. Two guns and ammunition were found inside the building. In the meantime local armed residents clashed with the forces and riots broke out throughout the city. Rocks, IEDs and Molotov cocktails were thrown at the soldiers, who responded with gunfire which killed eight Palestinians and wounded several more (IDF spokesman and Israeli media, February 22, 2023). Of the Palestinian operatives killed, six belonged to the Lion’s Den network: two from the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, one from the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB), and three were from the Lion’s Den network. The remaining five apparently did not have organizational affiliation.
• The PIJ’s Nablus Battalion, the Lion’s Den and the AAMB in Nablus reported that their operatives had participated in the events, throwing IEDs and shooting at the IDF forces (Palestinian TV, February 22, 2023). The Palestinian Authority (PA) ministry of health in Ramallah announced that 11 Palestinians had been killed and more than a hundred had been wounded (Ma’an, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: IDF forces enter Nablus. Left: One of the guns seized (IDF spokesman, February 22, 2023).

   
Palestinians riot against IDF forces in Nablus (QudsN Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

    
Palestinians riot in the center of Nablus during the Israeli security force activity (Right: QudsN Twitter account, left: alyawm24, February 22, 2023).

Reactions to the events

• The events led to a wave of enraged reactions from the Palestinian leadership, the terrorist organizations and foreign ministries around the world (See Appendix B). The Palestinian media broadcast the events live in real time and the Palestinian social networks posted many videos calling for attacks.
• Armed Palestinians in Jenin, most of them without masks, held a demonstration in support of Nablus. They fired their weapons into the air, chanted praise for the Palestinians killed and called for the armed campaign against Israel to continue. A march was held in al-Bireh where marchers called for the abduction of IDF soldiers and praised the Palestinians who were killed (QudsN Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: Armed Palestinians in Jenin march in support of Nablus. Left: Palestinians in al-Bireh march in support of Nablus (QudsN Twitter account, February 23, 2023).

• In the meantime, on February 23, 2023, a general strike was declared throughout the Palestinian territories as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the Palestinians killed in Nablus. All the stores, businesses, institutions, schools and academic institutions were closed. The Palestinian public was asked to go into the streets to demonstrate and continue “resistance” activities [terrorist attacks] against Israel (Wafa, February 23, 2023). The residents of east Jerusalem were also called on to demonstrate and “resist” (Ma’an, February 23, 2023).

     
General strike in Nablus and east Jerusalem (Ma’an, February 23, 2023).

• Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, claimed the Israeli government was responsible for the “dangerous escalation,” noting that the “crime” the IDF forces had committed in Nablus stressed the importance of the international community’s immediate action to stop Israel’s “crimes” against the Palestinian people (Wafa, February 22, 2023). PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned “Israel’s ongoing aggression,” claiming Israel was using “organized terrorism” to project its internal crisis onto the Palestinian arena. He called on the UN to take action (Wafa, February 22, 2023). The PA also threatened it would cancel the security summit meeting with the United States, Israel, Jordan and Egypt which was supposed to formalize the understandings recently reached by Israel and the Palestinians. The meeting is supposed to take place in Aqaba, Jordan, on February 26, 2023 (Israeli media, February 23, 2023).
• Hussein al-Sheikh, general secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee, said the Palestinian leadership was examining measures it could take at every level in response to the “slaughter.” He said the leadership would appeal to the Security Council and ask for “international protection” for the Palestinian people in view of “the occupation’s ongoing crimes” (Hussein al-Sheikh’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).
• Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said they had asked for emergency meetings of the Security Council and the Arab League to secure collective condemnations of Israel and international protection [for the Palestinian people] (Wafa, February 22, 2023). Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian delegate to the UN, said they had begun deliberations with the Security Council president to secure protection for the Palestinian people. He added that they demanded the implementation of Security Council resolutions regarding protection for the Palestinian people in accordance with international law (al-Jazeera, February 22, 2023).

The Gaza Strip

• A general strike was declared in the Gaza Strip, and in an unusual step the ministry of education in Gaza closed the schools and kindergartens (QudsN Twitter account, February 22, 2023). In the afternoon, several dozen Palestinians gathered in the Malka camp in the eastern part of Gaza City (formerly a return march site) near the border security fence. They burned tires and clashed with IDF forces, who responded with gunfire (Felesteen, February 22, 2023). On the morning of February 23, 2023, demonstrations were renewed near the border.

     
Palestinian burn tires near the border security fence in the eastern Gaza Strip (QudsN Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• In the evening, representatives of the Palestinian organizations held a support and solidarity demonstration. They noted the unity of the Palestinian people and warned the government of Israel that their patience was about to expire (QudsN Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said the “resistance [terrorist organizations] in the Gaza Strip is monitoring Israel’s escalating crimes against our people in the occupied West Bank,” and warned that they patience was about to expire (Abu Obeida’s Telegram channel, February 22, 2023). He was quoted by the Hamas media (al-Aqsa TV, al-Risalah, February 22, 2023).

    
Billboard in the center of Gaza City with pictures of the Palestinians killed in Nablus along with Abu Obeida’s threat (alresala.net, February 22, 2023). Left: Palestinian cartoon with a play on words: Sabar is both the fruit of the sabra cactus and “patience” in Arabic (Alaa’ al-Laqta’s Facebook page, February 22, 2023).

• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the “Zionist invasion” of Nablus was “barbaric” and “proved” the government of Israel was trying to escalate regional problems, adding that the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] could overpower the
• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah claimed that the events in Nablus were a “great Israeli crime” against the Palestinian people, and therefore the forces of the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] had to respond without hesitation. He claimed the Palestinian people would prove their unity against Israel (PIJ political bureau Telegram channel, February 22, 2023). PIJ leader Da’ud Shehab claimed Israel could expect that the response to “the crime in Nablus” would not be long in coming (al-Mayadeen, February 22, 2023)

Rocket fire

• In response to the events in Nablus, at four o’clock in the morning on February 23, 2023, six rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Sirens were sounded in the southern cities of Ashqelon and Sderot, and in the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. Five rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system and one fell in an open area. No casualties were reported (IDF spokesman, February 23, 2023).
• In response to the rocket fire Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas site for the manufacture of weapons in the central Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesman reported the site was located near a mosque, a clinic, a hotel and a police station (IDF spokesman, February 23, 2023).

• The Palestinian media reported that Israeli Air Force planes attacked two Hamas military wing posts, one in the northwestern part of Gaza City, where damage to the site was reported, and the other in the al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. According to reports, anti-aircraft weapons were fired at the planes, causing sirens to be sounded in the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip (Ma’an, February 23, 2023).
• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] thoroughly monitored all of “Israel’s crimes” against the Palestinian people and that their patience was about to expire. He claimed the Palestinians would continue their “revolution” despite Israel’s “acts of slaughter,” and that none of Israel’s plans would succeed in “oppressing” it. He also claimed the “resistance” determined the “equation” of attack in return for attack (al-Quds, February 23, 2023). PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami said the rocket fire had been a warning from the “resistance” to Israel that they did not intend to sit without response. He said they expected the “situation” to “explode” and escalate as long as Israel continued its escalation. He claimed Israel’s attempts to separate between [the Gaza Strip and the West Bank] would fail, because the Palestinian people were united and their battle was one (al-Quds, February 23, 2023).

   
Right: IDF attack on the northern Gaza Strip (QudsN Twitter account, February 23, 2023). Left: IDF attack on the Hamas post in the al-Bureij refugee camp (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, February 23, 2023).

• Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua said the response of the Palestinian “resistance,” anti-aircraft fire at the Israeli planes and the general strike in the Gaza Strip, strengthened the “equation” set during Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021) and enforced by the “resistance” (al-Aqsa TV, February 23, 2023).

Appendix A

Palestinian casualties

• According to reports, during the Israeli security forces activity in Nablus 11 Palestinians were killed and more than a hundred were wounded. An examination of the names revealed that of the six Lion’s Den terrorist operatives killed, two also belonged to the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, and one to the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB. The remaining five apparently did not have organizational affiliation.

   
Right: Mass funeral held in Nablus for some of the Palestinian fatalities (Wafa, February 22, 2023). Left: Palestinian cartoon attempting to conceal the terrorist identity of most of the Palestinians killed in Nablus by representing them as ordinary civilians (al-Wasat al-Yawm, February 22, 2023).

• Husam Bassam Aslim: 24 years old, one of the wanted terrorists hiding in the building that collapsed. A high-ranking Lion’s Den operative, he was an operative in the terrorist squad that carried out the shooting attack at Shavei Shomron on October 11, 2022, killing an IDF soldier. A short time before he was killed he recorded a message saying goodbye to his friends and family, and repeated the words of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi (Lion’s Den founder and commander, killed by the IDF in August 2022), who asked that Palestinians follow in his footsteps and never lay down their arms. The Lion’s Den network issued a statement claiming Aslim as one of its operatives.
• The Palestinian social networks posted a video of Husam Aslim being interviewed by the al-Jazeera program “More Than Meets the Eye.” He appeared masked and wearing a Lion’s Den headband, standing next to a Lion’s Den flag, and spoke at great length about the shooting attack he and other operatives carried out near Shavei Shomron. Part of the interview included a short video from an Israeli CCTV documenting part of the attack (Rasad al-Ado’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023). His body was wrapped for burial in a Lion’s Den flag and wearing a Lion’s Den headband (Rajab Ghaza’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023). Pictures were also posted of Aslim as a PIJ Jerusalem Brigades/Nablus Battalion operative (al-Thaer al-Umami Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: Husam Bassam Aslim with an M-16 assault rifle with a telescopic sight, wearing a battle vest with a Lion’s Den nametag and insignia (Sarkis El Chaykha El Douaihy’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023. Left: Husam Bassam Aslim as a PIJ Jerusalem Brigades/Nablus Battalion operative holding a rifle and standing in front of a PIJ flag (al-Thaer al-Umami Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Muhammad Omar Abu Bakr Juneidi, 24 years old, one of the wanted Palestinians. A Jerusalem Brigades/Nablus Battalion leader announced he was the battalion commander. PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami said Israel attacked the Nablus Battalion commander and his friend Husam Salim (PIJ Telegram channel, February 22, 2023). The Lion’s Den network claimed he was an operative in its ranks. He had been wounded several times in the past but “miraculously” escaped being killed (Rasad al-Ado’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).
• A video was posted showing him shooting at IDF roadblocks and bases several times in the past (Fouad Khreiss’s Twitter account, February 23, 2023). The Palestinian social networks posted pictures and video of al-Juneidi, calling him a Jerusalem Brigades/Nablus Battalion commander (al-Thaer al-Umami Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

     
Right: Muhammad Omar Abu Bakr al-Juneidi holding a rifle and wearing a Lion’s Den headband and a vest with the Lion’s Den insignia (Rasad al-Ado’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023). Left: Muhammad Omar Abu Bakr al-Juneidi in a pose as a Jerusalem Brigades/Nablus Battalion commander (al-Thaer al-Umami Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: Husam Bassam Aslim (right) and Muhammad Omar Abu Bakr al-Juneidi (Twitter account of Saudioun Ma al-Aqsa, February 22, 2023). Left: Husam Bassam Aslim (right) with a Lion’s Den nametag on his vest, and Muhammad Omar Abu Bakr al-Juneidi (Ahmed Fadel’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Musab Muneir Muhammad Awis, 23 years old, Lion’s Den operative (Duja Twitter account, February 22, 2023). He was an operative of the AAMB’s “Avenging youth and liberation” in the Balata refugee camp (Ra’ed al-Karmi’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: Musab Muneir Muhammad Awis (Doa Amarneh’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023). Left: Musab Muneir Muhammad Awis, an AAMB commander (Ra’ed al-Karmi’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Walid Riadh Hussein Dakheil, 23 years old, a Lion’s Den operative who shot at IDF forces several times over the past few months (Ynet, February 23 and 24, 2023). He appears in pictures with Farouq Salameh, also a Lion’s Den operative (Newpress Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

   
Right: Walid Riadh Hussein Dakheil (Duja Twitter account, February 22, 2023). Left: Walid Riadh Hussein Dakheil (right) armed with an M-16 assault rifle standing next to Farouq Salameh (whose gun has a Lion’s Den sticker on it) (Newpress Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Muhammad Khaled Anboussi, 25 years old, Lion’s Den operative (Doa Amarneh’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

• Tamer Nimr Ahmed Minawi, 33 years old, Lion’s Den operative from Nablus (Lin Twitter account, February 22, 2023). Buried wearing a Lion’s Den headband.

• Muhammad Shaaban, 16 years old (Doa Amarneh’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).
• Abd al-Hadi al-Ashkar, 61 years old. His son, Elias al-Ashkar, works as a male nurse in the al-Najah University Hospital in Nablus (Wafa, February 22, 2023).
• Anan Shukat Anab, 66 years old. According to the ministry of health in Ramallah, he choked to death on teargas during the riots in Nablus (Shehab Twitter account, February 23, 2023).
• Adnan Baara, 72 years old (Wafa, February 22, 2023).
• Jasser Jamil Abd al-Wahhab Qunaeir, 23 years old (Doa Amarneh’s Twitter account, February 22, 2023).

Appendix B

Other reactions

• The international community also condemned the Israel activity in Nablus. Ned Price, spokesman for the United States State Department, held a press conference where he said they were concerned by the level of violence in Israel and the PA following the activity in Nablus, which led to “civilian deaths.” He said the United States was concerned the events would damage the efforts made in recent days to lower tension, and that it was important for Israel to do everything possible to limit collateral damage (State Department YouTube channel, February 22, 2023). Tor Wennesland, special UN envoy to the Middle East peace process, said he was concerned by the unending cycle of violence and the loss of civilian lives. He called on both sides to avoid steps that could cause the situation to deteriorate (Tor Wennesland’s Twitter account, February 23, 2023).
• Both Hezbollah and Iran condemned the Israeli activity in Nablus. The Iranian foreign ministry strongly condemned the Israel forces’ “cruel terrorist attack,” and called on the international community to take immediate steps to stop the attacks and condemn the “genocide” (Iranian foreign ministry Telegram channel, February 22, 2023). Hezbollah criticized “Zionist aggression” and sent condolences to the Palestinian people and all the “Palestinian organizations.” According to the Hezbollah announcement, Israel is only deterred by the weapons of the “resistance” [terrorist organizations], which will “teach it a lesson and end its terrorism” (Hezbollah department of battle information Telegram channel, February 22, 2023).
• Sanan al-Majali, spokesman for the Jordanian foreign ministry, condemned Israel’s “ongoing military activity” and stressed the need to stop the escalation and its causes (Jordanian foreign ministry Twitter account, February 22, 2023).
• The Egyptian foreign ministry condemned the “storming of Nablus” by Israeli forces and expressed concern over the dangerous escalation in the occupied territories, which undermined the effort to achieve a lull between the sides (Egyptian foreign ministry Facebook page, February 22, 2023)
• The Saudi Arabian foreign ministry strongly condemned “the occupation forces invasion of Nablus,” noting Saudi Arabia’s objection to “Israel’s gross violations of international law.” The ministry called on the international community to take responsibility and put and end to the “occupation,” end Israel’s escalation and aggression and provide civilians with protection (Safa, February 22, 2023
• The UAE foreign ministry claimed the “storming” of Nablus by the Israeli forces led to dozens of killed and wounded. The UAE called on Israel to reduce its escalation and not take steps that would worsen regional tension (UAE foreign ministry website, February 22, 2023).
• The Qatari foreign ministry claimed “the Israeli occupation force’ invasion of Nablus” led to the deaths of Palestinians and the wounding of dozens. According to the announcement, Qatar viewed it as the direct continuation of Israel’s “ongoing crimes” against the Palestinian people and a gross violation of international resolutions. The ministry called on the international community to act urgently to stop the attacks and to prosecute Israel (Qatari foreign ministry, February 22, 2023).
• The Turkish foreign ministry strongly condemned the situation in Nablus and said it was necessary for Israel to stop is provocations and aggression in order to prevent a regional cycle of violence (Turkish foreign ministry Twitter account, February 22, 2023).
• The Bahrain foreign ministry condemned the “storming of Israeli forces” on Nablus, which led to Palestinian deaths, and sent condolences to the families of the Palestinians killed and to the Palestinian people and government. The ministry stressed the importance of reducing tension and providing protection for the residents of Jerusalem, as well as the need to continue the peace process and establish an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as it capital (Bahrain foreign ministry website, February 23, 2023).
• The Oman and Kuwait foreign ministries also condemned the events in Nablus (Oman and Kuwait foreign ministries’ Twitter accounts, February 22, 2023).

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