Palestinian Terrorists Wound Three Israelis at Joseph’s Tomb

The hundreds of civilians at the site were evacuated by Israeli forces • Samaria Regional Council head praises IDF officer’s bravery under fire, denounces “barbaric PA terrorism.”

By Israel Today Staff | | Topics: palestinians, Terrorism
Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli soldiers near Joseph's Tomb in Nablus/Shechem early on Oct. 17, 2019, as thousands of Jews visit the grave during Sukkot.
Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli soldiers near Joseph's Tomb in Nablus/Shechem early on Oct. 17, 2019, as thousands of Jews visit the grave during Sukkot. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90

Palestinian Muslim terrorists opened fire on Jewish worshippers visiting the traditional burial site of the biblical patriarch Joseph on Wednesday night, wounding three of them.

Joseph’s Tomb is located on the outskirts of biblical Shechem, which is today the Palestinian Authority-controlled town of Nablus. Jews wishing to visit the holy site must do so under heavy IDF guard.

See: From Abraham to Arafat: Shechem, First Stop in the Promised Land

The group that visited on Wednesday night reportedly came under “massive” Palestinian gunfire, the IDF said in a statement. Two civilian worshippers and one military officer suffered light wounds in the attack. Israeli forces returned fire while evacuating the civilians, according to the IDF.

One of the Israeli casualties was identified by the IDF as Col. Roy Zweig, the commanding officer of the Samaria Regional Brigade. He was wounded by shrapnel and evacuated to hospital for treatment.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, praised Zweig for his bravery under fire.

“Col. Zweig refused to treat his own injury before he finished evacuating all of the worshipers securely,” said Dagan, according to Kan news.

Dagan condemned the “barbaric terrorism of the Palestinian Authority” and vowed that Israelis would not be dissuaded from visiting Joseph’s Tomb.

According to Kan, some 300 worshippers were at the site when the attack occurred.

With reporting by JNS.

You Might Also Like
Load more

Israel Today Newsletter

Daily news

FREE to your inbox

Israel Heute Newsletter

Tägliche Nachrichten

KOSTENLOS in Ihrer Inbox