Biden administration faces backlash for sanctioning armed West Bank Palestinian group Lions’ Den

WASHINGTON, DC: In a controversial move, the Biden administration announced sanctions on Thursday, June 6, against Lions’ Den, a Palestinian militant group operating in the West Bank.

This action, intended to curb violence in the region, has sparked significant backlash across social media platforms, with critics accusing the United States of bias and hypocrisy, as reported by The Hill.

Biden administration accuses Lions' Den of orchestrating violent attacks

The US State Department justified the sanctions by accusing Lions’ Den, known in Arabic as Areen al-Usud, of orchestrating violent attacks that threaten the stability of the West Bank.

The group, which emerged in Nablus during the summer of 2022, has reportedly claimed responsibility for various violent incidents, including drive-by shootings targeting Israeli vehicles and settlements.

"In September 2022, Lions’ Den fighters injured and killed Palestinian civilians during clashes between Palestinian fighters and Palestinian Authority Security Forces in Nablus," stated State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

In addition to an official statement, Miller announced the sanctions via a post on X (formerly Twitter), "The United States condemns any and all acts of violence that threaten the peace and stability in the West Bank. Today, @StateDept sanctioned 'Lions’ Den,' an armed Palestinian group centered in Nablus’ Old City in the West Bank."

Additionally, the department referenced Palestinian media reports alleging that Lions’ Den members attacked Israeli forces at a checkpoint in Nablus in April.

However, these reports remain unconfirmed, and the group has not claimed responsibility for the alleged attack, as noted by The Times of Israel.

These sanctions against Lions’ Den come after the Biden administration's earlier actions against Israeli citizens in the West Bank accused of violence against Palestinians.

These measures are part of broader efforts to address the ongoing crisis in the disputed territories, exacerbated by the war in Gaza.

The United Nations has documented a significant human toll in the region since October 7, 2023. Over 500 Palestinians and 12 Israelis have lost their lives in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during this period.

Among the Palestinian casualties, 124 were children. Additionally, more than 5,000 Palestinians, including 800 children, have been injured, with live ammunition causing over a third of these injuries.

Conversely, Palestinian attacks in the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of 12 Israelis, including seven soldiers and five settlers. Over 100 Israelis have been injured, with 70 of them being soldiers.

Additionally, attacks originating from the West Bank have led to the deaths of eight Israelis and four Palestinian perpetrators within Israel.

Biden administration's sanctions against Lions' Den spark fury online

The announcement of Biden administration's sanctions against Lions’ Den sparked a wave of outrage on social media. One user on X described the move as "Gaslighting at its finest."

Another commented, "You sanctioned West Bank Palestinians when they’re being attacked by settlers. The state department has gone full blown Israeli Lobby." This sentiment was echoed by another user who asserted, "Palestinians have the right to self-defense."

A user remarked, "Settlers and the IDF are killing Palestinians at will in the West Bank and you’re sanctioning Palestinians? This kind of glaring hypocrisy that's so obvious it’s almost comical would be funny if it wasn’t so depressing."

The criticism continued with another user stating, "The US has the audacity to sanction small belligerent groups who are fighting against oppressers but dare not to even condemn the biggest terrorism by Israel against Palestinians, let alone sanctioning them. US is supporting Netanyahu who is an international criminal as per ICJ."

Another user argued, "The West Bank is illegally occupied Palestinian land according to international law and any violence against those settlers who by the way are armed by Israel is by definition legitimate. Truly ridiculous."

The sentiment of frustration was summarized by a user who wrote, "This is a joke. The West Bank is under occupation by the Israelis. You are sanctioning a group on their own land defending themselves from violent Israeli extremists who are literally lighting Palestinians’ homes on fire, shooting farmers, and murdering children."

Lastly, an user criticized the administration’s policies more broadly, stating, "This administration’s enabling of Israel and its ethnic cleansing is an embarrassment to our nation."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.