At least 1,000 illegal settlers, accompanied by Israeli military soldiers, have stormed Joseph's Tomb on the outskirts of Nablus, desecrating the site venerated by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Palestinian security sources and local residents said the settlers arrived at the site on board a number of buses early on Thursday, and broke into the tomb amid protection by Israeli troopers.
Israeli forces also deployed several military vehicles on the streets leading to Joseph's Tomb to prevent any potential confrontation between Palestinians and the settlers, who were purportedly uttering prayers from the Talmud.
Shortly afterwards, skirmishes broke out between a group of Palestinian youths and Israeli forces in the vicinity of Joseph's Tomb, where Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
Clashes were also reported at Balata and Askar refugee camps in the suburb of Nablus.
The development came only a day after Israeli forces and intelligence officials stormed a tract of land in Ras al-Amud neighborhood of East al-Quds (Jerusalem), uprooting 47 olive saplings.
They also forcibly dispersed a group of protesters from the area, and removed placards depicting Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in recent months.
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