Confrontations during a previous storming of the occupation forces into the city of Nablus (Al Jazeera)

Clashes broke out between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian resistance fighters during their storming of the cities of Nablus and Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank at dawn on Saturday, as the occupation forces continued their night raids on the cities and towns of the West Bank, and despite the restrictions of the occupation authorities, 90,000 worshipers performed the evening and Tarawih prayers in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of blessed month of Ramadan.

Local Palestinian media reported that gunfire and explosive devices targeted the occupation forces as they stormed the vicinity of the Old City of Nablus at dawn today. Local sources indicated that the occupation forces stormed the center of Nablus and the Al-Habla and Faqous neighborhoods in the Old City.

Israeli occupation forces storm the city of Nablus in the West Bank #Gaza_War #Video pic.twitter.com/duMbc4vDLi

- Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) March 16, 2024

The occupation forces also stormed the city of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank from several directions and conducted patrols in various neighborhoods there.

Local media reported that confrontations broke out between resistance fighters and the occupation forces storming the city of Qalqilya.

The occupation forces deployed snipers in several places during the storming of Qalqilya, which has intensified its raids since last October.

In other raids, the occupation forces raided homes in the town of Iskaka, east of Salfit.

In the south of the West Bank in Hebron, the occupation forces fired tear gas bombs towards Al-Arroub camp, north of Hebron. They also stormed the town of Bani Naim, east of Hebron, and conducted patrols through its streets.

In the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron, scenes broadcast by local platforms showed a group of settlers storming the neighborhood, and local sources said that a group of settlers attacked Palestinian property during their storming of the neighborhood.

Earlier, Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the occupation forces stormed the "Al-Far'a" camp, south of the city of Tubas.

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that armed clashes broke out between Palestinian resistance fighters and the occupation forces before they withdrew from the camp about an hour after it was stormed.

The Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank announced that its fighters in the camp confronted the occupation forces and their vehicles, and forced them to retreat.

“Oh God, grant victory to our oppressed brothers in Gaza.”.. from the supplication of the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque on the night of the sixth of Ramadan #Gaza_War #Video pic.twitter.com/EHKX7jarPc

- Al Jazeera Palestine (@AJA_Palestine) March 15, 2024

90 thousand worshipers in Al-Aqsa

In occupied Jerusalem, the Islamic Endowments Administration said that 90,000 worshipers performed the Isha and Tarawih prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Al Jazeera monitored large numbers of worshipers performing the evening and Tarawih prayers yesterday evening, Friday, after arriving from the gates of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, while intensive security measures by the occupation forces continued in the Old City and at the gates of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and included searches and verification of identities.

Eyewitnesses reported that tens of thousands of worshipers from the city of Jerusalem and from within the Green Line flocked to Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the restrictions and restrictions of the occupation authorities.

The occupation police prevented young Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa to perform the evening and Tarawih prayers, without it being possible to know the exact number of them, but they are estimated in the hundreds, according to witnesses.

Large forces of occupation police were deployed in the streets of the city, especially the Old City, its alleys and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, since the morning hours.

For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) praised the crowds that defied the occupation restrictions to respond to Al-Aqsa’s call.

Since the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the occupation police have closed all checkpoints around East Jerusalem to West Bank residents.

In parallel with its ongoing devastating war on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation army escalated raids and arrest operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, causing confrontations that resulted in the martyrdom of 433 Palestinians and the injury of about 4,700, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies