IDF Secures Mass Jewish Pilgrimage to Joseph's Tomb in Nablus

Hundreds of religious Jews participated in a mass pilgrimage to the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus (Shechem) overnight, with the Israeli military (IDF) providing extensive security for the event. The pilgrimage coincided with the Sukkot holiday. No significant incidents were reported.

Palestinian Authority sources confirmed that IDF forces operated in Nablus to secure the Jewish pilgrims. During the security operation, several Nablus residents were detained. Access to the Tomb of Joseph requires military authorization, and travel is typically organized via buses escorted by the military through Palestinian territories.

In recent years, there have been several instances of unauthorized Israeli visits to the site, often resulting in violence. On October 2, 2023, two tourists were injured in an attack after entering Nablus without IDF coordination. In August 2022, five Israelis who entered the tomb complex without approval were shot by terrorists, with two sustaining gunshot wounds. Their vehicle was set ablaze amid riots. The pilgrims claimed they were en route to Bnei Brak and had mistakenly ended up at the tomb.

The Tomb of Joseph, a significant Jewish holy site, has a history of vandalism. In April 2022, it was damaged by extremists, prompting condemnation from Israel and demands for restoration by the PA. In the early days of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, the complex was set ablaze and its dome repainted green before being restored to a neutral color by PA authorities. Despite repairs by both Israeli and PA authorities over the years, including in 2010, 2018, and following a 2015 pogrom, the site has faced repeated damage. In April 2011, a 25-year-old man was killed and four others wounded during an unauthorized visit.