NABLUS, Sunday, January 29, 2023 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Sunday stole artifacts from the village of Sebastia, north of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, local sources said.
Mohammad Azem, head of the Sebastia municipality, said that the Israeli soldiers stole artifacts from the archeological site in the village.
He added that the forces have been surrounding and keeping hold of staff from the municipality and the Ministry of Tourism for hours.
The occupation forces detained the staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities while they were working at an archaeological site in Sebastia.
The municipality of Sebastia had informed the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities that ancient burials were found during the construction of a new road using the mechanisms of the Sebastia municipality, where the crews of the Ministry moved in order to start archaeological excavations, but the occupation forces, and in less than an hour later, sent military troops to the archaeological site, accompanied by the Israel Antiquities Authority crews and all workers at the site were detained
The Israel Antiquities Authority, upon its arrival with the Israeli military forces, worked to enter the ancient cemeteries and tamper with the archaeological site and informed them of the need to leave the archaeological site
