JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Two Jewish worshipers and Samaria Brigade Commander Col. Roi Tzweig were lightly injured after terrorists opened fire at the tomb of Yosef Hatzadik in Shechem during prayers taking place Wednesday night. Hundreds of Jews were present at the site, marking the yarhzeit of Yosef which falls on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz. The worshipers reported that the shooting was at the entrance to the building which houses the tomb. The terrorists had also attempted previously to attack the troops securing the entrance to Shechem.
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The IDF spokesman reported that terrorists fired extensively at the tomb compound and IDF soldiers responded to the sources of the fire. At the same time, the soldiers began to evacuate all of the worshipers from the city of Shechem. During the exchanges of fire the three people were lightly injured.
A chareidi youth present at the scene told the Kikar Hashabat site that “we were praying it was all calm and suddenly, I don’t know from where, there were lots of shots. The soldiers brought us into the tomb compound and then evacuated us from Shechem, it was a miracle that they didn’t murder anybody.”
ירי לעבר מתפללים במתחם קבר יוסף שבשכם הלילה. pic.twitter.com/U5J5b2W6rU
— Elisha Ben Kimon אלישע בן קימון (@elishabenkimon) June 29, 2022
The tomb of Yosef has been the target of a number of recent attacks. A few months ago Palestinians entered the tomb and desecrated the tombstone and the next day when two Breslav chasidim entered the site without military authorization they were attacked and injured by terrorist gunfire. The tomb has now been renovated by the Samaria regional council.
Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said that “after they broke and burnt the place, Palestinians are now shooting at worshipers at the tomb of Yosef. We will not relinquish our hold on the tomb of Yosef. Only the IDF can maintain our presence and the attacks are occurring because the IDF is not allowed to return there.”