Among the wounded was IDF Samaria Regional Brigade commander Col. Roi Zweig.
Palestinian gunmen lightly injured one IDF officer and two civilians when they fired on a group of Israelis who had entered Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb under escort from the IDF.
The attack occurred during a regularly scheduled visit to the tomb, in which thousands of Jewish worshipers are allowed access to the site in the dead of night, after the IDF has secured passage to the tomb.
During that visit, “armed terrorists opened heavy fire against the tomb’s complex,” the IDF said.
In a video published of the incident, soldiers are seen asking worshipers to turn out the compound’s light after the firing started. Among the three who were wounded was IDF Samaria Regional Brigade commander Col. Roi Zweig, the army said.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said that Zweig did not seek medical treatment until he had overseen the evacuation of all the worshipers from the area of the tomb.
Israeli security forces arrive at Joseph’s Tomb after 3 people were injured in a shooting, June 30, 2022. (Source: Samaria Regional Council)
“He is a true hero and I salute him on behalf of all the people of Israel,” Dagan said.
The council head blamed Israel’s government for the attack, explaining that such incidents would not occur if the IDF kept a regular presence at the tomb and kept it open on a permanent basis to Jewish worshipers.
“The lack of an IDF presence in this holy place is the reason why the murderous ‘Palestinian Authority’ raises its head and allows itself to shoot Jews during their prayers,” Dagan said.
“We will not give up our hold on this place; we will continue to visit the tomb.”