At least five Palestinians were shot dead in an Israeli military attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus last night. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said more than 20 people were injured. A sixth Palestinian was killed in a clash with Israeli soldiers near the city of Ramallah.

The target of the Israeli raid was a group of militant Palestinian youth calling themselves “The Lion’s Den”. The group is believed to be responsible for attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. The Israeli army reported last night that it had destroyed a building where the group would be making bombs.

Shortly after midnight, heavily armed Israeli soldiers and secret agents entered the city center, local media reported. A firefight reportedly broke out after Palestinian troops spotted one of the soldiers. According to Palestinian sources, at least one prominent member of the organization “Den of the Lions” is among the dead. One of the other victims is said to have been unarmed.

The Israeli action in the streets of the old town of Nablus triggered violent protests from Palestinian youth:

While Israeli military incursions into occupied territories are a daily occurrence, last night’s incident was one of the deadliest this year. Overall, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids aimed at arresting Palestinians in the West Bank this year. Israel stepped up its crackdowns after a series of attacks on Israeli sides this spring killed 19 people.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he had contacted the United States to ask for help in ending Israel’s campaign of continued military incursions. “All of this will have dangerous and destructive consequences,” Abu Rudeineh told local Palestine TV.

But Israeli Prime Minister Lapid said on the radio this morning that Israel was not deterred. “The moment they hurt us soldiers and Israeli civilians, they must know it will end badly,” he added.

Lapid spoke yesterday with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was also visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Rutte is also speaking to Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu today. Parliamentary elections are scheduled in Israel in a week.