Israeli settlers, escorted by military forces, stormed
Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, leading to violent confrontations in which several
Palestinians were injured, with one in critical condition. Local sources and
media outlets report widespread use of live ammunition, tear gas, and property
damage amid mounting regional tensions.
What Happened During the Raid on Joseph’s Tomb?
As detailed by The New Arab’s sister
site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, dozens of Palestinians were injured by
live bullets while many more suffered suffocation from tear gas as Israeli
forces cleared the way for settlers early Wednesday morning to access Joseph’s
Tomb, a site revered by multiple faiths—including Muslims, Christians,
Samaritans, and Jews. According to local reports cited by The New Arab,
Israeli troops took position in the surrounding residential zones, snipers
occupied rooftops, and live rounds were fired at local youths attempting to
resist the incursion, with tear gas inundating homes and streets.
Ahmed Gibreel, director of the Nablus Red Crescent, stated
to The New Arab that “more than 80 Palestinians received
treatment for tear gas-related injuries, with one victim in critical condition
after being shot”. Ambulance crews reportedly attended to various types of
injuries, including burns and trauma from falls.
Who was Involved and How Did Events Unfold?
According to WAFA News Agency, dozens of Israeli colonists, under military protection, entered the eastern part of Nablus, performing religious rituals at Joseph’s Tomb. WAFA's unnamed security sources detail how the colonists vandalised public and private property along Al-Quds(Jerusalem) Street before moving to the tomb. This led to fierce confrontations with local Palestinian residents who attempted to resist the entry.
MTV Lebanon references security sources who
state:
“Dozens of settlers stormed the eastern area of the city and vandalised both public and private property along Jerusalem Street, sparking confrontations with Palestinians who tried to resist them… [they] entered Joseph’s Tomb under the protection of Israeli soldiers, where they performed Talmudic rituals.”
What Was the Response from the Authorities and Local Residents?
ILKHA and Anadolu Agency both
report a significant military presence, with Israeli occupation forces entering
Nablus through multiple checkpoints while deploying tear gas and sound bombs to
facilitate the colonists' entry. According to Amid Ahmed of the Red Crescent’s
Emergency and Ambulance Center, medical staff treated injuries ranging from
burns to suffocation due to poisonous gas. Victims—including a 60-year-old—were
taken to local hospitals for care.
Palestinian residents reportedly resisted the storming,
leading to more confrontations. The Israeli military has not released an
official statement regarding the injuries at the time of publication, as cited
by ILKHA.
What is the Historical Significance and Context of Joseph’s Tomb?
Flashpoint for Violence
Anadolu Agency notes Joseph’s Tomb as a
longstanding flashpoint for clashes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers. Jewish
tradition views the site as the burial place of the biblical patriarch
Joseph—Muslim tradition contests this, claiming an Islamic cleric, Sheikh
Yussef Dawiqat, is buried there.
While Jews, Christians, and Samaritans periodically visit, these visits
frequently spark tension due to competing religious claims and the tomb’s
location inside Palestinian-controlled Nablus.
Jordan News highlights participation by Israeli
political and settlement leaders in recent incursions, with Knesset member Tzvi
Sukkot and Settlements Council head Yossi Dagan joining the storming,
indicating escalating settler activism in the sensitive site.
What Were the Broader Consequences and Reactions?
Dawn News reporting, using material verified by
Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking unit, shows video evidence of settlers near
Joseph’s Tomb. The footage, published on Palestinian platforms, depicts how
Palestinian Authority security forces intervened and handed the settlers over
to Israeli soldiers.
Meanwhile, Israeli media sources cited by Times of
Israel and WAFA note that some Israeli pilgrims
entered without prior military coordination and were subsequently attacked by
local Palestinians, sustaining minor injuries and requiring extraction by
security forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) report that additional groups
trying to reach the tomb were turned back at city entrances for safety.
According to Anadolu Agency, the military use of
tear gas in residential neighbourhoods sparked fires in local markets and a car
parts warehouse, further exacerbating the damage to local infrastructure.
How Many Were Injured, and What is the Current Situation?
The precise number of injured varies by report:
- The
New Arab, quoting Nablus Red Crescent Director Ahmed Gibreel, reports
“dozens” injured by live bullets and more than 80 treated for tear gas
inhalation, with at least one person in critical condition.
- ILKHA adds
that ambulance teams responded to a broad spectrum of injuries,
transferring those affected—including elderly citizens—to hospital.
- WAFA and
other local outlets confirm several Palestinians injured, with all victims
transferred for medical care following clashes.
Further unrest is noted by Anadolu Agency, with
repeated reference to escalations since the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu
and the ongoing Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
What Are the Political and International Implications?
The latest violence comes against a backdrop of mounting
regional tension. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 935
Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in Israeli military or
settler attacks since October 7, 2023, a figure cited during these recent
reports by Anadolu Agency.
The International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation
of Palestinian territories illegal in July 2024, ordering, in principle, the
evacuation of settlements—a point widely referenced in regional coverage. However,
repeated settler incursions continue, often under military escort or amid
clandestine entry, as noted in reporting by Times of Israel and
corroborated by footage and eyewitnesses.
Are There Any Official Statements from Israeli or Palestinian Authorities?
No comprehensive official statement on the casualties or incident has been released by Israeli authorities at the time of reporting, as highlighted by ILKHA and confirmed by the lack of updates from the Israeli government channels. The Palestinian Red Crescent, however, has confirmed the injuries sustained and emphasised the severity of the military and settler actions in Nablus.
Coverage by respected Middle Eastern and international
outlets including The New Arab, WAFA News Agency, ILKHA, Anadolu
Agency, and others confirms that the most recent storming of Joseph’s Tomb
by Israeli settlers—protected or facilitated in some cases by military
forces—has resulted in significant injuries and property damage in Nablus. The
raid further aggravates long-standing fault lines over access, sovereignty, and
religious claims in the occupied West Bank, and underscores how Joseph’s Tomb
remains a volatile epicentre in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.