Israelis shot at by Palestinians at Joseph's tomb, in light condition

The car belonging to the Israelis flipped over on their way out of the city. They were picked up by IDF and transferred to the police, all in light condition.

 Palestinians inspect the car of Jewish men who entered illegally to the Joseph's Tomb overnight and attacked by Palestinians, in the West Bank city of Nablus, July 15, 2022.  (photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)
Palestinians inspect the car of Jewish men who entered illegally to the Joseph's Tomb overnight and attacked by Palestinians, in the West Bank city of Nablus, July 15, 2022.
(photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)

Four Israelis were shot at by Palestinians after they entered Joseph's Tomb in Nablus in the northern West Bank without coordinating the visit with security forces, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. 

Israeli security forces got them out of the city after their car went up in flames. They are all in light condition and police have opened an investigation into the incident. 

Joseph's Tomb is an intense clashing point for Israelis and Palestinians. Just a month ago, Jewish worshipers at the site were shot at, leading to a gunfight that resulted in injuries for 17 Palestinians, two Israeli civilians and one IDF commander.

The attack occurred during a regularly scheduled visit to the tomb to mark Rosh Hodesh, in which thousands of Jewish worshipers are allowed access to the site after the IDF has secured passage to the tomb.

In separate statements, Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades and Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the shooting at Joseph’s Tomb.

 Hundreds of ultra Orthodox Jewish men pray near the compound of Joseph's Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus early on June 10, 2013. (credit: YAAKOV NAUMI/FLASH90)
Hundreds of ultra Orthodox Jewish men pray near the compound of Joseph's Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus early on June 10, 2013. (credit: YAAKOV NAUMI/FLASH90)

Back in April, the tomb was vandalized by Palestinian rioters. They set fire to the site, damaging the gravestone, a chandelier hanging above it, a water tank and an electricity closet.

The vandalism came amid a second night of arrest raids made by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, following a deadly terrorist attack on Thursday night on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv that claimed three lives. It was also right around the religious holidays of Passover and Ramadan, which stoke tensions every year when they come by.

The terrorist, Raad Hazem, 28, was from the nearby Palestinian city of Jenin.

The attack drew condemnation comments from Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum, decrying the vandalism of a holy prayer site. 

Tovah Lazaroff, Anna Ahronheim and Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this report.