Clashes broke out between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinians in the city of Nablus yesterday evening, Tuesday, during the occupation forces stormed the eastern region of the city (in the northern West Bank) to secure the settlers’ storming of what is known as “Joseph’s shrine.” The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that an officer was shot dead by the Israeli occupation forces in the north of the city. Hebron;

This raises the total number of martyrs to 15 since the beginning of the year.

Sources told Al-Jazeera that resistance fighters opened fire at the occupation forces near Balata camp (east of Nablus), while the occupation forces arrested a young man and tried to run over another in the suburb area.

The Israeli army used live and metal bullets and tear gas bombs, while Palestinian youths blocked the roads in front of military vehicles, which they threw stones and empty bottles, and set rubber tires on fire.

Jewish settlers frequently storm the city of Nablus to perform prayers in what is known as the "Maqam of Joseph" under the guard of the Israeli army, in order to perform religious rituals because they believe that it is the tomb of Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him.

The Palestinians deny the validity of this, and say that the age of the tomb does not exceed 200 years, and that it belongs to a Muslim man who lived in the area in the past, called "Youssef Dweikat."

For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the martyrdom of Captain Hamdi Shaker Abu Dayyeh, a Palestinian police officer, by Israeli occupation forces at the entrance to the village of Nabi Yunis in the town of Halhul (north of Hebron).

A statement by the ministry added that the martyr Abu Dayyeh died of his wounds, and that his body is being held by the Israeli army.

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that the Israeli army shot a Palestinian while he was trying to shoot at a military force in the area.

Activists and local media circulated a video clip of a young man lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by Israeli soldiers who prevented him from approaching him.

Occupation soldiers shoot a Palestinian youth near Halhul, north of Hebron# Al Jazeera # Video pic.twitter.com/Z9WExKBKzb

- Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) January 17, 2023

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that the number of Palestinian martyrs has risen to 15 since the beginning of this year, including 7 from the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank, including 4 children.

On the other hand, the Israeli occupation forces arrested 20 Palestinians from separate areas in the West Bank on Tuesday.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club said that the occupation forces launched a massive campaign of raids and arrests in several cities in the West Bank, concentrated in Al-Fawar camp (south of Hebron), where 10 Palestinians were arrested.

This brings the number of Palestinian detainees since the beginning of this year to more than 235 detainees.


international condemnations

On the other hand, 39 countries in the United Nations called on Israel to back down from punitive measures against the Palestinians over settlements and the ongoing violations against them.

In a joint statement, these countries said they reject the Israeli punitive measures - measures taken by Israel in response to a request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on settlements and the ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian rights - and call on Tel Aviv to immediately retract these measures.

The signatories to the statement affirmed their firm support for the International Court of Justice and international law, as the cornerstone of the international system, and affirmed their adherence to the multilateral system.

On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that it is in the interest of all countries of the world to stop what he called the incitement of the Palestinian Authority, which encourages terrorism, as he put it.

He added that what he described as meaningless statements and signatures would not prevent his government from taking the right decisions to protect its citizens, and stressed that Israel is committed to its security before anything else.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, renewed his rejection of the Palestinian Authority being subjected to retaliatory measures, after the approval of the United Nations General Assembly to request the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's violations.

Stephanie Tromblay, Assistant Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said Guterres urges refraining from such unilateral steps.

On January 6, the Israeli government approved 5 sanctions against the Palestinians following their action in the United Nations institutions, including deducting millions of dollars from tax money, freezing construction plans in the West Bank, and withdrawing "concessions" from government officials.