Israeli soldiers invaded, late on Wednesday at night, the eastern area of Nablus city, in northern West Bank, to accompany dozens of colonialist settlers into Joseph’s Tomb area.
Eyewitnesses said many army jeeps accompanied several buses, filled with colonialist settlers, and headed towards Joseph’s Tomb.
They added that several youngsters protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the army jeeps, while the soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs, and concussion grenades.
It is worth mentioning that the army frequently invades the eastern area of Nablus to accompany the colonists into the historic site, an issue that leads to protests, in addition to the ongoing invasions of homes and the abduction of many Palestinians.
Joseph the patriarch is revered by Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Samaritans alike, however, the Israeli military allows Jews to visit as part of organized pilgrimages, despite the site being in Area A where the PA has full control and prohibits Muslims from worshiping at the site.
Ultra-orthodox and nationalist Jews regularly try to visit the shrine without approval, as many Jews believe the tomb to be the final resting place of the biblical figure in the Old Testament.
Palestinians believe that Joseph’s Tomb is the funerary monument to Sheikh Yousif Dweikat, a local religious figure.
