Sebastia: Israeli occupation forces on Friday forced Palestinians to close their stores in the Sebastia town, northwest of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to a local official.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Mayor of Sebastia, Mohammad Azem, reported that the occupying forces coerced Palestinian merchants to shut down their businesses. This incident is part of a pattern of frequent Israeli military raids in Sebastia, where soldiers have been ransacking homes and assaulting residents.
Sebastia, situated 11 kilometers northwest of Nablus, is a small historical town with a population of around 3,000 Palestinians. It is positioned on a hill offering panoramic views across the West Bank and has been a significant settlement since the Iron Age, through the Hellenistic and Roman eras. The town is home to various historical structures, including a Roman amphitheater, temples, and churches dedicated to Saint John the Forerunner. It also features a mosque honoring the saint, believed by both Christians and Muslims to be buried in the town.
Israel has intensified efforts to control Sebastia, creating a cultural conflict by hindering the Palestinian Authority's restoration projects, restricting tourist services, and allegedly stealing historical artifacts. Palestinians claim that Israeli colonists frequently attack the town and have fenced off parts of its antiquities for religious rituals.
The archaeological area of Sebastia is divided between (B) areas, controlled by Israeli military and Palestinian administrative authority, and (C) areas, under full Israeli control. This division has led to complications for local businesses, with restaurant and hotel owners reporting significant financial damages due to Israeli actions.
Israel's use of the Jewish nationalist term 'Judea and Samaria' for the West Bank is seen as an attempt to legitimize territorial claims. Currently, there are about 1 million Israeli colonists living in West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
