NABLUS: Hundreds of Israeli settlers entered Joseph’s Tomb in eastern Nablus on Thursday under heavy Israeli military protection.
Local sources said Israeli forces cleared nearby streets before the settlers reached the site. They also said soldiers ordered Palestinian families near the tomb to leave their homes.
The soldiers then used some buildings as military positions. Israeli snipers also took positions on several rooftops, according to the same sources.
Settlers Enter Joseph’s Tomb
Buses carrying hundreds of settlers arrived in eastern Nablus early Thursday.
The settlers then entered Joseph’s Tomb and performed religious rituals, local sources said.
More Read
Meanwhile, Israeli forces closed several roads around the site. The restrictions affected areas near Amman Street and Balata Al-Balad.
The military presence also limited movement for local Palestinian residents.
Reuters Connect also published images showing Israeli forces at the Joseph’s Tomb site in Nablus on October 1.
Palestinians Report Evacuations
According to local sources, Israeli forces moved into eastern Nablus before the settlers arrived.
The troops ordered families living near Joseph’s Tomb to leave their homes. They then used some of the buildings as military posts.
In addition, Israeli snipers positioned themselves on rooftops overlooking the area.
The military also closed roads and restricted access around the tomb, according to Palestinian sources.
Remains Recovered in Gaza
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have continued recovering human remains from destroyed areas in Gaza.
Earlier reports said teams recovered 105 Palestinian remains from the rubble in Gaza City.
The recovery efforts follow extensive destruction during the war. In September, the UN human rights chief said teams had recovered hundreds of bodies from destroyed buildings across Gaza.
The UN official said many of the recovered victims appeared to include women and children.
Rising Tensions in the West Bank
The latest Joseph’s Tomb raid comes amid continuing tensions in the occupied West Bank.
Recent incidents have also involved clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. On September 29, more than 100 settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jalud, according to Reuters.
