NABLUS, Palestinian Territories: In a tragic incident early Thursday, Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian near a highly sensitive holy site in Nablus, situated in the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
The ministry released a statement confirming the incident, stating that a citizen was killed by the occupation (Israeli) bullets in Nablus. However, no further details were provided regarding the identity of the deceased. It was disclosed that three other individuals were injured in the same incident and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, according to VoA.
As of now, the Israeli army has not issued any comments or statements regarding the incident.
This incident comes amidst escalating tensions in the West Bank, triggered by a series of Palestinian attacks on Israeli settlers and retaliatory violence by Israeli settlers towards Palestinians.
Eyewitnesses, who were present at the scene, shared their accounts with AFP (Agence France-Presse). According to their testimonies, the Israeli army was in the process of escorting a group of Israelis to a religious site near Nablus, Joseph’s Tomb. As the Israelis approached the site, dozens of Palestinians reportedly set fire to tires and threw explosive devices and stones at the soldiers.
Joseph’s Tomb is believed to be the final resting place of the biblical patriarch Joseph and holds immense religious significance. However, it has been a hotbed of violence and unrest in the West Bank, with clashes frequently occurring in the vicinity. While the Israeli army regularly escorts pilgrims to the site, Palestinians claim that such visits are provocative and further escalate tensions in the region.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in significant casualties this year, with at least 196 Palestinians, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian, and one Italian losing their lives, as per an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides. Among the casualties on the Palestinian side were combatants and civilians, while on the Israeli side, the majority were civilians, along with three members of the Arab minority.
Israel has maintained control over the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. The presence of around 490,000 Israelis in settlements within the territory has been considered illegal under international law, leading to ongoing disputes and heightened tensions in the region.
