Israelis enter outskirts of Nablus; Palestinian wounded by gunfire and ten affected by tear gas

Groups of Israeli hikers entered the outskirts of Nablus and nearby villages this morning, a week after the attack in which Maj. Yuval Ezra and Staff Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Melet were killed. During the day, clashes developed between Israelis and IDF forces and Palestinians. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a 32-year-old man was wounded by gunfire in the al-Junaid area, and ten people, including children, were affected by tear gas. The IDF said Palestinians threw stones, an Israeli fired into the air, and troops fired at a "central instigator."

Groups of Israeli hikers entered the Nablus area and nearby villages this morning (Friday), a week after the attack near the village of Tel in which Maj. Yuval Ezra and Staff Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Melet were killed. During the day, clashes developed in the area between Israelis and IDF forces and Palestinians. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a 32-year-old man was wounded by gunfire in the al-Junaid area, west of Nablus, and was evacuated to a hospital. It was also reported that ten people, including children, were affected by tear gas. According to Palestinian reports, Israelis also reached the villages of Tel and al-Ammariya, and in the village of Burin, olive groves were set on fire. The IDF stated that Israeli civilians entered the outskirts of Nablus, and Palestinians threw stones at them. According to the military, one of the Israelis fired into the air, with no casualties. It was also reported that a report was received about several Israelis who vandalized a cemetery. IDF forces, which had been deployed in advance for the arrival of the hikers, acted to disperse the gathering and to remove the Israelis from the area. Subsequently, stones were also thrown at the soldiers, and the force responded with a suspect arrest procedure that included firing at what the military defined as a "central instigator." The trips were not coordinated in advance with the IDF, but the military prepared for them after learning about them. The IDF emphasized that entering Area A is forbidden and dangerous for Israelis and constitutes a violation of the law.