Israeli Forces Escort Settler Incursion into Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus Area

(MENAFN) Israeli settlers entered the area of Joseph’s Tomb east of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank early Wednesday under heavy protection from Israeli military forces, according to local sources cited in reports.

Dozens of settlers reportedly arrived at the site to carry out religious rituals while accompanied by Israeli troops, who secured the surrounding area and imposed movement restrictions before later withdrawing around 7:30 a.m. local time.

Reports indicate that several roads in the vicinity were closed during the operation, causing disruption in the area. In response to the security measures and the incursion, local education authorities delayed the start of the school day until 8:30 a.m.

Joseph’s Tomb, located on the eastern outskirts of Nablus, is considered one of the most sensitive and frequently contested sites in the West Bank.

The site has been a point of contention since 1967, with Jewish groups viewing it as the burial place of the Prophet Joseph, while some archaeological assessments dispute this claim, suggesting the structure is more recent and may be associated with a Muslim figure named Yusuf Dweikat.

Although the area falls under Palestinian administrative control, it is regularly entered by Israeli settlers under military escort, often during nighttime operations, contributing to recurring tensions in the region.

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