NABLUS, Wednesday, April 24, 2019 (WAFA) –At least 27 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire and tear gas as some 1,500 Israeli settlers forced their way into Joseph’s Tomb in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Israeli forces escorted a convoy of buses packed with some 1,500 fanatic Jewish settlers into the site, located in the Palestinian-controlled area, sparking confrontations with Palestinian residents.

Soldiers opened fire on Palestinians protesting the raid and attempting to block settlers’ access to the site in the vicinity of Joseph’s Tomb and al-Ghawi junction, injuring 27 Palestinians.

Palestinian Red Crescent medics confirmed that they provided medical treatment to 27 Palestinian casualties following the confrontations.

Seven of the 27 casualties were injured with rubber-coated steel bullets, including two cases who were shot in the head before being rushed to a hospital for treatment.

At least 14 others suffocated after Israeli soldiers showered protesters with tear gas canisters. Among the suffocation cases was a two-month old infant who was subsequently rushed to a hospital.

Settlers repeatedly break into Joseph’s Tomb, located in a densely Palestinian populated area in Nablus, provoking chaos and confrontation with local residents.

K.T./ K.F.