Dozens of Palestinians injured as Israeli troops storm Joseph's Tomb near Nablus

Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Wednesday morning after Israeli troops stormed Joseph's Tomb in Balata, east of Nablus, in preparation for the entry of settlers.

Local Palestinian youths confronted Israeli troops soon after they were deployed around the historic tomb.

Director of the Palestinian Red Crescent's Ambulance and Emergency Department in Nablus, Ahmed Jibril, said that a young man was injured after being run over by an Israeli military vehicle. Another had his leg broken after being hit with a tear gas bomb.

Six more Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets fired by the Israeli military with 35 others injured by tear gas, Jibril added.

Prior to the Israeli storming, Palestinians had spread oil on the roads to make it difficult for military vehicles to drive up to the tomb.

خلال استهداف جرافة عسكرية لجيش #الاحتلال بالزجاجات الحارقة في المنطقة الشرقية في #نابلس
الخبر كاملا: https://t.co/JoiEq7njs0 pic.twitter.com/pofxxpABw5

— موقع عرب 48 (@arab48website) January 17, 2023

Joseph's Tomb is considered by some to be the burial place of the Biblical figure and Islamic prophet Joseph (Youssef). It has been the site of frequent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces, who often storm it in the company of Israeli settlers.

Israeli forces have increased attacks on Nablus in recent months, killing and injuring scores of Palestinians. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of 2023 by the Israeli army.

The Palestinian Lions' Den group, which emerged to resist Israeli attacks on Palestinian cities in the West Bank, said in a statement that it had "resisted with bullets and canisters manufactured locally the occupying forces when they stormed the eastern area of Nablus, and we will see who besieges whom".

Israel has imposed a crippling siege, accompanied by frequent raids, on Nablus for the past several months. Since March 2022 it has intensified attacks on Palestinian cities in the West Bank, making 2022 the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied territory since 2005 according to UN figures.

The rise to power of an extreme-right-wing government in Israel including racist leaders such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has increased fears that Palestinians will be subjected to more violence and persecution by the Israeli army.