Several Palestinians were arrested and dozens more injured by the Israeli occupation forces in predawn Wednesday sweeps launched across the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the abduction of 17 Palestinians over allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activities.
The campaign targeted Palestinian civilians and ex-prisoners from Nablus Ramallah Bethlehem and al-Khalil.
The Israeli military also ravaged civilian homes all the way through the assault.
Palestinian ex-prisoner Udai Muzhir was meanwhile kidnapped by Israeli soldiers from his family home in Qalandiya refugee camp north of occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time scores of Palestinians were injured early Wednesday from Israeli gunfire as hundreds of extremist Israeli settlers forced their way into Joseph’s Tomb in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Israeli forces escorted a convoy of buses packed with hundreds of fanatic settlers into the site sparking confrontations with Palestinian residents.
Soldiers opened fire on Palestinians protesting the raid and attempting to block settlers’ access to the site.
One of the casualties identified as Mutasem Saqf Al-Heit a journalist was hit with a rubber-coated steel bullet in the abdomen. He was rushed to Rafidia Hospital for treatment.
Soldiers also showered protesters with tear gas canisters causing several protesters to suffocate. All suffocation cases received first aid treatment at the scene. Three Palestinian youths were arrested in the clashes.
Settlers repeatedly break into Joseph’s Tomb located in a densely Palestinian populated area in Nablus provoking chaos and confrontation with the locals.
