Around 100 Palestinians wounded in clashes with Israeli forces near Joseph’s Tomb
Most of the wounded suffered from smoke inhalation or hit by rubber bullets, according to reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent
IDF forces escorting Jewish worshippers to Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus in 2022. Photo by Emil Salman/Haaretz
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Around 100 Palestinians were wounded in the early hours of Thursday during clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank city of Nablus, near Joseph’s Tomb.
Most of the wounded suffered from smoke inhalation or hit by rubber bullets, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The Red Crescent also reported that two Palestinians were injured by live fire to their lower bodies in the nearby Balata refugee camp. All injuries are considered light to moderate.
Over the past year, Joseph’s Tomb has become a flash point for clashes between Palestinians, Israeli visitors and the Israeli forces accompanying them. In many cases, the tensions spill over into firefights and casualties on the Palestinian side. Seven Palestinians were killed in 2022 during visits by Israeli worshippers to the site.
In July, 19-year-old Bader Sami Masri was shot and killed in clashes that erupted between Israeli troops and Nablus residents when thousands of Jewish worshipers, including Israel’s police chief, entered the town to pray at the site.
At the time, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that four other Palestinians were wounded by gunfire and that 30 others suffered from tear gas inhalation, including a baby and a 12-year-old girl.
