Israeli pilgrims make illegal visit to Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, clash with local Palestinians

A group of Israelis who visited Joseph’s Tomb in the Palestinian city of Nablus overnight without prior coordination with the military had to be extracted from the area after clashing with local Palestinians, the IDF says.

The military says other groups of Israelis had attempted to reach the site as well, but were blocked from entering Nablus by troops at the entrance to the city.

According to the Walla news site, the Israeli pilgrims and the Palestinian residents of the city threw stones at each other, and several of the Israelis were said to have sustained minor injuries.

The IDF says all Israelis were then rescued from the area and handed over to the Israel Police for further investigation.

The Israel Hayom news outlet reports that the pilgrims were initially rescued from the scene of the clash by Palestinian Authority police, who then transferred them to the IDF.

The Israelis involved in the incident are reportedly members of the Shuvu Bonim cult led by convicted sex offender Rabbi Eliezer Berland.