RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Israeli military killed five Palestinians on Oct. 25, two of whom were affiliated with the Lion’s Den, in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank. The military operation lasted for about four hours and was described as the most violent since 2002's Operation Defensive Shield.

The Israeli attack came 48 hours after the killing of Lion’s Den leader Tamer al-Kilani in an explosion in Nablus on Oct. 23. The group accused the Israeli Shin Bet of being behind Kilani’s killing, in what was seen as the first Israeli targeted assassination in 15 years. However, Israel has remained silent on the operation. 

The killing of Kilani and the large-scale operation that followed in Nablus — and which was directly monitored by the head of the Shin Bet and the army chief of staff — appear to be the beginning of a broader military action that Israel is implementing to eliminate the armed group that was recently formed. It seems the Israeli decision to launch this wide-scale military action came after an Israeli soldier was killed near Nablus on Oct. 11.

All signs indicate that Israel is heading toward further escalation in the West Bank, which began with the imposition of a siege in Nablus on Oct. 11, after which it moved to assassinations and massive raids and may lead to a large-scale operation for several days inside the city similar to what happened in 2002.