Violent clashes erupt as Israeli military raids West Bank areas; several Palestinians injured
Several Palestinians have been injured in the Israeli military’s new raids across the occupied West Bank and desecration of holy sites, as the regime steps up its acts of violence in the wake of the formation of a far-right administration in Tel Aviv.
Overnight clashes erupted on Tuesday, after the Israeli army raided the eastern part of Nablus city and closed off the Tomb of Joseph to escort settlers into the religious site, sparking protests by the Palestinian residents, the local Wafa news agency reported.
Israeli forces deployed several military vehicles on the streets leading to the area. They fired gunshots, sound bombs and tear gas to enable the settlers’ incursion of the holy site.
Dozens of Palestinians suffered suffocation due to teargas inhalation.
The Israeli escalation prompted the Palestinian resistance group known as the Lions’ Den to respond and shoot at the military vehicles of the occupation army.
The resistance group also called on Palestinians to boost preparations to confront the Israeli assaults.
Joseph’s Tomb is situated in the West Bank’s Area A, which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, the Israeli military allows settlers to visit the site without approval, and even escorts them into the place.
The site is venerated by Jews, Christians and Muslims, but the Israeli regime prevents Muslims from worshiping there. Israelis claim the site contains the tomb of a rabbi, but the site is part of an old mosque where Muslim scholar Yousef Dweekat is buried.
Similar clashes were reported in other parts of the West Bank, including al-Khalil, Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem, after Israeli forces stormed the areas, the report said.
In response, young Palestinian men used fireworks to confront Israeli vehicles and soldiers and prevent them from advancing further into the city.
During the clashes, the Israeli occupation forces detained at least 20 Palestinians from several areas across the occupied territories, including 10 people from al-Khalil.
Also on Tuesday, dozens of Israeli settlers, guarded by the regime’s military forces, stormed al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards and wandered provocatively across them.
The recent waves of violence in the West Bank take place as the new extremist cabinet led by hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes for far-right policies to intensify the crackdown on Palestinians.
Since the beginning of 2023, 14 Palestinians have been killed, including four children, according to statistics from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
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