Israeli soldiers, settlers storm Nablus following siege

Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, clashing with resistance fighters.

The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that Israeli troops entered the besieged city from several entry points, notably the eastern entrance near the Balata refugee camp.

The soldiers were accompanied by at least 50 Israeli settlers who forcibly entered Joseph’s Tomb east of the city and performed Jewish rituals.

At least one Palestinian youth was injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the tomb. Video shared on Twitter showed Palestinian fighters firing on Israeli forces.

مقاومـون يطلقون النار تجاه قوات الاحتلال عند مدخل مخيم #بلاطة شرق #نابلس خلال اقتحام قبر يوسف. pic.twitter.com/gBOxh6x1As

— وكالة سند للأنباء - Snd News Agency (@snadps) October 12, 2022

Two Palestinian youths were injured by Israeli bullets during a raid on the city of Jenin, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.

On Wednesday, Israel sealed off the entrances to Nablus after an Israeli soldier was killed in the city the day before.

The Palestinian Lions' Den resistance group had earlier warned Israeli settlers against storming the ancient tomb, where the Prophet Joseph is believed to be buried and which is sacred to Muslims as well as Jews.

The Palestinian city has been subjected to repeated Israeli raids in recent months.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and injured across the West Bank since last March, when Israel stepped up raids of Palestinian cities following a series of attacks inside Israel.

Groups such as the Lions' Den, which are not affiliated with existing Palestinian factions, have emerged to resist the Israeli incursions.

WAFA also reported on Thursday that 24 Palestinians were detained across the West Bank in "large-scale raids", targeting mainly areas around Jerusalem.

At least 11 people were detained in Issawiya, while four more were detained in the Qalandia refugee camp north of the city and three in Anata, according to WAFA.