Nablus massacre as Israeli forces kill ten Palestinians

Israeli troops killed ten Palestinians, including an elderly man and a teenager, after storming the Al-Souq Al-Sharqi area of Nablus in the northern West Bank on Wednesday. Another 102 Palestinians were injured.

The Palestinian armed group Islamic Jihad said two of its commanders in Nablus and other fighters had been encircled in a house by Israeli troops. 

Israeli occupation troops entered Nablus in force on Wednesday morning from the Huwarra military checkpoint and attacked the Al-Souq Al-Sharqi area.

The troops laid siege to the house leading to intense fighting. The Israeli forces then launched an anti-tank shell at the house, resulting in a huge explosion, according to sources.

Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian fighters and civilians, who threw stones and bottles. Israeli troops fired live bullets and tear gas grenades at the civilians.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the nine fatalities included 72-year-old Adnan Baarah and 16-year-old Mohammed Shaaban. It added that another 102 Palestinians were wounded, at least six of them critically.

Videos shared by Palestinian Twitter accounts showed heavy fighting between the Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in the old city of Nablus.

شاهد لحظة إصابة شاب برصاص الاحتلال الحي في رأسه بمدينة #نابلس، قبل قليل. pic.twitter.com/fK3ySmhl1s

— وكالة الرأي (@alrayps) February 22, 2023

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority, denounced the latest Israeli attack. 

"We condemn the occupation's raid into Nablus and we call for an end to the continued attacks against our people," he said. 

Since March 2022, Israel has been launching near-daily deadly raids on Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank.

عاجل | لحظة نقل إصابة برصاص الاحتلال في نابلس pic.twitter.com/7jwsXJ30KT

— فلسطين الآن (@paltimes2015) February 22, 2023

The coming to power of an extreme right-wing government in Israel last November saw the raids intensify, with at least 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 2023.

Nablus had emerged as one of the main centres of resistance against Israeli occupation. The Lions' Den group, which is unaffiliated with established Palestinian armed groups, was formed last year to resist Israeli incursions.

Reuters contributed to this report.