Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in Nablus incursion on Joseph's Tomb

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian schoolchildren and commuters near the occupied city of Nablus as they attempted to storm Joseph's Tomb under the protection of Israeli soldiers.

Dozens of settlers threw stones at children on their way Hawwara Secondary School, in the occupied West Bank, on Tuesday morning, according to local reports. Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinians from retaliating against the assault.

Cars with Palestinian license plates were pelted with rocks by settlers who have called on the Israeli army to assault on cities in the occupied West Bank, according to reports.

Settlers closed off roads leading to Nablus on Monday and Tuesday mornings to perform religious rituals marking Jewish holidays. 

Talmudic prayers were also performed at checkpoints surrounding Nablus and were prevented from entering Joseph's Tomb by a local Palestinian activist group known as Lion's Den.

Israel has illegally occupied the West Bank since 1967 and expanded illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories despite international outcry.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.