Palestinian militant group blames Israel for member’s death
Jerusalem, Oct 23 (EFE).- Israel is to blame for an explosion that killed a member of the Den of Lions in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the Palestinian armed group has reported.
Tamer Kilani, 33, died when an improvised explosive device attached to his motorcycle went off at around 1.30 am (22.30 GMT) in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the newly-formed group said that an Israeli man planted the bomb upon a request from the military, with whom the Den of Lions has been clashing almost daily in recent weeks.
The group threatened with a “painful response” and called on Palestinians to take to the streets after attending Kilani’s funeral.
Several media outlets have suggested it could have been an accidental explosion, but the Den of Lions released video footage showing the blast and footage of an Israeli allegedly attaching the bomb to Kilani’s motorcycle.
So far, neither the Israeli army nor the Palestinian health ministry has confirmed the explosion nor the death of the member of the armed group.
Kilani was a Den of Lions leader and was accused of masterminding several attacks in Nablus and Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media. The armed group, however, did not confirm that Kilani held a commanding position.
Den of Lions has claimed responsibility for most of the shooting attacks carried out in Nablus since August, which have increased during the past two weeks.
Last week, an Israeli soldier was shot dead and a settler was injured in two separate incidents in the northern West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron.
Kilani’s death brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or during raids and clashes in the West Bank this year to 126, making 2022 the deadliest year since 2015.
Most casualties have been militants but minors and unarmed civilians, such as Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, have also died during violent clashes.
Fifteen Israeli civilians and seven security force members have died so far this year amid confrontations with Palestinians.EFE
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