RAMALLAH, Palestine

Confrontations erupted early Monday morning in the eastern occupied West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli forces during the military's escort of illegal settlers to the site of Joseph's Tomb.

A significant number of Israeli soldiers entered eastern Nablus city in the Palestinian territory to secure the illegal settlers' visit to Joseph's Tomb, eye witnesses reported.

Clashes broke out between dozens of locals and the army, which responded with live fire and tear gas, they added.

The witnesses also noted that the Israeli army raided several neighborhoods in eastern Nablus and searched homes before withdrawing.

Sporadic sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard during the raids and clashes.

Palestinians shared videos showing the Israeli military entering eastern Nablus accompanied by buses transporting illegal settlers.

Other videos showed groups of illegal settlers entering the city on foot from Mount Gerizim, walking through Palestinian residential areas.

Joseph's Tomb is located on the eastern outskirts of Nablus, which is under Palestinian control. Jews consider the site sacred, believing it to be the burial place of Prophet Joseph, whose remains were brought from Egypt and interred there.

However, some archaeologists dispute this claim, asserting that the tomb is only a few centuries old and is actually the grave of a Muslim cleric named Yusuf Dweikat.

Tensions have been high across the West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip after a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 521 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 5,000 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio