Ramallah, October 7 (RHC)-- Israeli troops have attacked Palestinians who were trying to prevent hundreds of extremist settlers from storming Joseph's Tomb on the outskirts of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

According to a report by the Palestine Information Center, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at the Palestinian residents who attempted to tackle the break-in on Sunday night.

A Palestinian journalist was hit and injured in the abdomen by a bullet of that kind. The exact number of casualties remains sketchy.  The report added that nearly 1,000 extremist Jewish settlers, under tight protection by Israeli soldiers, broke into the tomb and performed Talmudic rituals at the site, which is venerated by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Citing eyewitnesses, it added that several Israeli military vehicles surrounded the site and the neighboring areas to make way for the settlers’ raid.  Joseph's Tomb is situated in the West Bank's Area A, which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA).  However, the Israeli military allows settlers to visit the site without approval, and even escorts them into the place.

The Israeli regime prevents Muslims from worshiping there.  Israelis claim the site contains the tomb of a rabbi, but the site is part of an old mosque where Muslim scholar Yousef Dweekat is buried.  Palestinian residents in the area say the Israeli regime is planning to reoccupy the historical site after its military left in 2000.

Separately, Israeli soldiers broke into Augusta Victoria Hospital in the Mount of Olives neighborhood adjacent to the occupied Old City of East Jerusalem al-Quds, the Palestine Information Center reported. 

Citing local residents, it added that Israeli forces, accompanied by police dogs, stormed the hospital, broke into several rooms in the cancer treatment section, and terrorized the patients, claiming that they were searching for a weapon.

In a statement, Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila condemned the storming.  She said entering the hospital with guns and police dogs further confirmed Israel's disregard for the Palestinian patients and health institutions.