NABLUS, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Hundreds of Jewish settlers raided Joseph’s Tomb in the eastern part of Nablus early Thursday morning and performed Talmudic rituals under heavy protection from Israeli occupation forces, in the latest of nearly monthly raids on the site.
Local sources said Israeli military vehicles stormed eastern Nablus, forced Palestinian families living around the site to evacuate their homes, and turned the buildings into military posts. Israeli snipers were also deployed on the rooftops of several homes.
The sources said buses carrying hundreds of settlers then broke into the eastern part of the city and headed toward Joseph’s Tomb, where the settlers performed Talmudic rituals.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces closed several roads and streets around the site, particularly Amman Street and the Balata Al-Balad area, imposing a security cordon and restricting the movement of Palestinian residents.
Israeli troops had earlier raided the central vegetable market in eastern Nablus and harassed Palestinians there, according to local sources.
On Thursday morning, the Nablus Directorate of Education announced the suspension of classes at schools and kindergartens across the city due to the continuing Israeli raid on eastern Nablus and concerns for the safety of students and teachers.
Offerings and Talmudic rituals
Jewish settlers performed Talmudic prayers and rituals at the site alongside several settler leaders and officials. They also brought plant offerings into the tomb under heavy Israeli military protection.
Settler groups had announced earlier this week that they would raid Joseph’s Tomb for several hours to perform prayers marking the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Local residents said several Israeli military vehicles stormed eastern Nablus and surrounding neighborhoods through the Al-Tur and Beit Furik checkpoints before soldiers evacuated Palestinian families from several residential buildings and turned the properties into military posts.
Settler raids on Joseph’s Tomb take place on a nearly monthly basis under the protection of the Israeli occupation army, with rabbis and Israeli officials frequently participating in religious rituals at the site.
During previous raids, the area surrounding the tomb has been turned into a closed military zone, with confrontations, tear gas and live fire reported. Palestinian families have also been forced out of their homes, with some properties converted into military and observation posts.
Since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, the site has repeatedly been a destination for settler raids. The compound is normally guarded by Palestinian security forces, who withdraw during incursions by Israeli forces and settlers before returning after their departure.
The latest raid comes amid continuing settler incursions in Nablus and surrounding areas. During such incursions, residential neighborhoods around religious sites are effectively transformed into closed military zones, severely restricting the movement and daily lives of Palestinian residents until Israeli forces withdraw.
