Israeli forces deploy at Sebastia entrances in Nablus to make room for settler intrusion

Nablus (QNN)- Israeli occupation forces since Wednesday morning have deployed at the village of Sebastia entrances in Nablus and at the road leading to the archaeological site and prevented the owners of shops from opening them.

Local sources said that Israeli forces have deployed at the entrances of Sebastia village and at the road leading to the archeological site of Sebastia, to make room for the settler intrusion.

The forces also prevented the owners of the shops from opening them.

Sebastia is an ancient town dating back 3,000 years. It extends over 5,000 dunums [1,235 acres] and is inhabited by 3,500 people. Herod the Great named the city Sebaste — meaning Augustus — in honor of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar in 27 B.C.

The city, famous for its dozens of Roman archaeological pieces and sites, continuously faces attacks by Israeli settlers and the Israeli forces, who have their eyes set on its archaeological sites.

The settlers also repeatedly raided the archeological site of Sebastia, as in June only, the settlers raided it more than three times.

Israel’s archeological activities in Palestinian territory aim to extend the policy of dispossessing Palestinians of their lands and cultural assets.

The indigenous of Sebastia, however, said they will not allow the Israeli occupation to one day steal their heritage and will confront every attempt to take over the lands.

In November 2020, Israeli occupation authorities threatened to forcibly remove the 17-meter (56-feet) long Palestinian flagpole erected near the antiquities plaza in the village of Sebastia.

The plaza itself is located in Area B of the West Bank, which is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli military control. ‘Israel’ claims the flagpole provokes the settlers.

In the past years, ‘Israel’ has taken many illegal steps targeting Palestinian heritage sites.

There are nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers living in 256 illegal settlements and outposts scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.