A number of Palestinians were injured today by Israeli gunfire when occupation forces overran the eastern neighbourhoods of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Local sources in the city said some 20 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and suffocation after an Israeli force arrived at Joseph's Tomb to protect a large number of settlers who arrived to perform prayers there.

The sources added that Israeli troops arrived in the area at midnight ahead of the arrival of a large number of buses carrying settlers.

The injured Palestinians were evacuated to hospitals and health centres in the city while the Israeli occupation forces pulled out early in the morning shortly after the settlers departure.