Tense firefighting took place overnight in Nablus as Jewish worshipers entered Joseph's tomb. Even before the expected entry, the "Lion’s Den" terrorist group declared their intention to attack the worshippers.
The armed terrorist group, whose disbandment was announced by the Palestinian security forces several months ago, issued a statement stating that due to the security situation in Nablus, they are taking the security responsibility for Nablus and demanding that the members of the Palestinian security forces not intervene.
Under Oslo, Israelis may visit Joseph's Tomb in Nablus/Schem. Last night IDF escorted Jews for Hanukkah. Palestinian terrorists shot & IDF protected them.
— Lenny Ben-David (@lennybendavid) December 22, 2022
Reminds me of the most Jewish US TV show EVER: 1961 Have Gun Will Travel. Thugs disrupt a wedding,,https://t.co/vtBpsxJqNj pic.twitter.com/12UifFyVpu
In the message published by the Lion’s Den, it was stated that "Due to the sensitive security situation and the change in the occupation's attack methods, we are informing you of permanent security activity in all parts of Nablus". The group's activists, along with other locals, burned tires and prepared the area to discourage Jewish worshipers from entering Joseph's Tomb. The group even fired at the Israel Defense Forces positions on the Samaritan Mount Gerizim.
During the visit of the worshipers, there was a heavy exchange of fire between the IDF forces and terrorists in the 'refugee camp' in Lata and on Amman Street near the Tomb where Jacob's second youngest son is believed to be buried. The Lion’s Den activists fired and threw explosives at the IDF forces who returned fire resulting in several casualties. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of Ahmed Ataf Mustafa Daragmah "from bullets of the Israeli occupation on the back and foot, during the occupation’s aggression on Nablus." Daragmah was a football player as well as a member of the militant group Hamas.
The Hamas operative, Ahmad Atef Daragmah, was eliminated in military raid in Nablus pic.twitter.com/hswis6QqBK
— Adin - עדין (@AdinHaykin1) December 22, 2022
Ahmed Abu Sayaj from the town of Tubas was also killed. Sayaj served as a security officer of the Palestinian Authority, according to a report that did not receive official confirmation. The Palestinians also claimed that shots were fired at Red Crescent personnel and journalists who were present however those claims too could not be independently verified. Militants often use ambulances as cover to fire on Israeli soldiers and many 'reporters' work for militant organizations and are present to shape a narrative that many times, does not reflect the truth.
At the same time, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday evening called the death of security prisoner Nasser Abu Hamid "a full-fledged war crime". Abu Hamid, one of the founders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, was defined as "Marwan Barghouti's right-hand man" and was responsible for the murder of at least seven Israelis. He was serving seven cumulative life sentences and an additional 50 years in prison for terrorist acts. He was pronounced dead at the Assaf Harofeh Hospital after a battle with cancer.
An armed clash between Palestinians and the Israel Defense Forces at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus left one Palestinian killed overnight https://t.co/35Pq9AH6Ge
— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) December 22, 2022
During a meeting with the European Union regarding the international direction of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen said: "The assassination of Nasser Abu Hamid is a full-fledged war crime. The life of Nasser Abu Hamid sums up the reality of the long-standing injustice experienced by the Palestinian people. We will launch a broad international campaign to hold Israel responsible for the legal and historical in order to provide international protection to our defenseless people."
