Clashes erupt in West Bank's Nablus after Israeli worshipers arrive at holy site

Clashes erupted early on Wednesday morning between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus as one thousand Jewish worshipers forced their way to a holy site.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that Israeli military, Border Police, police and Civil Administration forces secured the entrance of a thousand worshippers to Joseph's Tomb, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews.

Violent clashes broke out at the entrance to the city. According to the spokesperson, during the incident, Palestinians fired towards an Israeli vehicle from a passing car.

Youths hurled rocks and a firebomb at an Israeli military vehicle and the soldiers "responded with riot dispersal means," the spokesperson said. These means usually include tear gas, stun grenade and sponge-coated bullets.

Upon the forces' entrance to Joseph's Tomb, two self-manufactured grenades were found in the area of the site. "It was detonated by sappers," the spokesperson said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but one Palestinian was apprehended and transferred to security forces for further questioning, according to the military.

Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled it ever since, despite international criticism.

Night military raids and mass entrances of Israeli worshipers to holy sites in Palestinian cities usually trigger clashes between locals and Israeli security forces