Israel/Palestinian Terr.: IDF and Palestinians clash near Nablus Sep. 26

Event

Clashes erupted between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and Palestinians near Nablus (West Bank) on the night (local time) of Wednesday, September 26, as some 1500 Jewish people visited Joseph's Tomb. Palestinians reportedly threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF soldiers, who responded with "anti-riot means," wounding over 20 Palestinians. Further clashes between IDF troops and Palestinians are possible in the West Bank in the coming days.

Context

A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians, and would move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new embassy was officially opened on May 14.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.