Hundreds of Israeli settlers invaded the ‘Joseph’s Shrine’ located in the eastern part of Nablus city in the northern West Bank on Thursday morning, carrying out Talmudic rituals under strict protection from the Israeli military. Local sources told Anadolu Agency that Israeli military vehicles entered the eastern area of Nablus, forcing residents of several Palestinian houses surrounding the shrine to evacuate their properties. Some of these residences were converted into military barracks, with snipers deployed on their rooftops.
According to the same sources, buses carrying hundreds of settlers entered the zone and proceeded to the shrine. While the settlers performed their religious rites, Israeli forces also raided the central vegetable market in eastern Nablus, where they assaulted citizens present at the location. The incident highlights the recurring nature of such invasions at the site, which is protected by the army to facilitate religious activities.
Jewish tradition holds that the site, situated on the eastern edge of Nablus, contains the tomb of the Prophet Joseph, son of Jacob, believing his remains were transported from Egypt and buried there. In contrast, the Palestinian narrative identifies the structure as the mausoleum of a Muslim sheikh named Yusuf Duwaykat. The location continues to be a focal point for repeated incursions by settlers backed by military security measures.
