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Battle of Nablus
Part ofOperation Defensive Shield
Israeli soldiers patrolling in Nablus.
Date April 3–8, 2002 Location Nablus,Palestinian Authority (West Bank) Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel Israel Defense Forces	Palestinian Authority Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Tanzim Hamas Islamic Jihad
Commanders and leaders
Yitzhak Gershon Aviv Kochavi Shaul Mofaz Moshe Tamir	Nasser Badawi Nasser Awais Ahmed Tabouk † Husam Badran
Strength
2 regular infantry brigades 1 reserve armored brigade[1]	1,000+[2]
Casualties and losses
1 killed (friendly fire)[3]	70 killed Hundreds captured[4]
8 civilians killed

TheBattle of Nablus was fought from April 5 to April 8, 2002, in thePalestinian city ofNablus in theWest Bank between theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian forces, as part ofOperation Defensive Shield in theSecond Intifada. It resulted in an Israeli victory.

Of all the West Bank towns, theIDF General Staff was particularly concerned about the expected resistance in Nablus, and especially in itsCasbah.Hamas andFatah had launched dozens ofsuicide bombers. Despite a previous successful raid onBalata, the General Staff still estimated hundreds of armed men would be entrenched in the city, causing the IDF heavy casualties. Two days after the start of Defensive Shield, an extension of the operation north ofRamallah, to Nablus andJenin, was approved. Originally, the mission was given to a reserve division, but was later transferred to the more experiencedWest Bank Division. The division's commander, Brigadier GeneralYitzhak Gershon, received two regular infantry brigades, theParatroopers Brigade and theGolani Brigade, along with a reserve armored division. A private contractor allowed the commander of the Paratroopers 890th battalion to use a construction site for training for three days.^[1] There was a near-mutiny among one reserve armored platoon, who claimed they were not properly trained forurban warfare. High ranking armor officers eventually talked them into joining the operation.^[4]

Israeli armored and infantry forces quickly occupied most of the city, with clashes taking place aroundrefugee camps.Israeli Air Force attack helicopters fired rockets at Palestinian defenses in Nablus' main square and neighboring streets, but to minimal effect.^[2] The NablusCasbah was attacked by two battalions simultaneously, using two different fighting methods. TheGolani Brigade pushed in usingAchzarit armored personnel carriers andarmored bulldozers to clear away barricades. The Golani Brigade engaged the Palestinians in heavy street combat, forcing many to withdraw to the western part of the Casbah, where they were attacked by theParatroopers Brigade. The Palestinians in the Casbah were deployed in small squads, consisting of two to four men, with each squad in charge of a sector. Explosive charges were set between the alleys and shooting positions were taken.^[4] Nasser Badawi, anAl-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades commander, said "We are waiting for the Israelis to get out of their armored vehicles and fight us on the ground".^[2]

The Paratroopers advanced by sending several small forces at the same time to take over houses in the Casbah and confuse the Palestinian fighters. Often, the Palestinians would expose their positions to Israeli military snipers by firing at Israeli forces in another direction.^[4] Palestinian commanderAhmed Tabouk was among those killed by sniper fire. On April 8, the Palestinians announced their willingness to surrender. The acceptance of the surrender was postponed by two hours, during which the Paratroopers killed more Palestinian fighters.^[3]

According to a later lecture by the Paratroopers Brigade commander, ColonelAviv Kochavi, Israeli Chief of Staff (Ramatkal)Shaul Mofaz, was unhappy with the fact that two other Palestinian towns,Qalqiliyah andTulkarm, had surrendered almost without Palestinian casualties. Mofaz argued that it was better not to leave armed men in Nablus (perOslo Accords), who would resume their attacks on the IDF after the withdrawal.^{[citation needed]}

About seventy Palestinian fighters and eight civilians were killed. At least one IDF officer was killed by friendly fire. Hundreds of Palestinians were arrested. High ranked wanted persons, such asNasser Awais of Fatah andHusam Badran of Hamas fled east toTubas. They were arrested a week later.^[3] The IDF also claimed to have exposed explosive labs.^[5] According toUNESCO, hundreds of buildings were affected. Sixty-four were severely damaged, seventeen of which had "particular heritage significance", including theAbd al-Hadi Palace. Four buildings were completely destroyed.^[6] TheUnited Nations estimated the property damage at $110m.^[7]

• Harel, A.;A., Isacharoff (2004).The Seventh War (in Hebrew). Tel-Aviv: Yedioth Aharonoth Books and Chemed Books.ISBN 978-965-511-767-7.

• Bennet, J. (2002-04-08)."In Nablus's Casbah, Israel Tightens the Noose".New York Times. Retrieved2008-09-25.
• Bennet, J. (2002-04-09)."Medics Move Wounded Palestinians Through Battle Zone".New York Times. Retrieved2008-09-25.
• Goldenberg, S. (2002-04-09)."Grim respite in Nablus reveals casbah toll".The Guardian. Retrieved2008-09-25.
• Report on the Destruction to Palestinian Institutions in Nablus and Other Cities. Gush Shalom. April 2002. Archived fromthe original on 2008-10-21. Retrieved2008-10-09.

32°13′13″N35°16′44″E / 32.22028°N 35.27889°E /32.22028; 35.27889

• Operation Defensive Shield
• Nablus in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
• Urban warfare in Asia
• April 2002 in Asia
• 2002 in Palestine
• Battles in 2002

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