Battle of Nablus

Israeli soldiers in Nablus

Date	April 3–8, 2002
Location	Nablus, Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
Result	Israeli victory

Belligerents

Israel (IDF)

Palestinian Authority

Hamas

Islamic Jihad

Commanders and leaders

Ahmed Tabouk †

Strength

2 regular infantry brigades
1 reserve armored brigade

1,000+

Casualties and losses

1 killed

70 killed
Hundreds captured

8 civilians killed

Palestinian Authority

The Battle of Nablus was fought from April 5 to April 8, 2002 in the Palestinian city of Nablus in the West Bank between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian forces, as part of Operation Defensive Shield in the Second Intifada. It resulted in an Israeli victory.

Of all the West Bank towns, the IDF General Staff was particularly concerned about the expected resistance in Nablus, and especially in its Casbah. Hamas and Fatah had launched dozens of suicide bombers. Despite a previous successful raid on Balata, 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 of Ramallah, to Nablus and Jenin, was approved. Originally, the mission was given to a reserve division, but was later transferred to the more experienced West Bank Division. The division's commander, Brigadier General Yitzhak Gershon, received two regular infantry brigades, the Paratroopers Brigade and the Golani 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. There was a near-mutiny among one reserve armored platoon, who claimed they were not properly trained for urban warfare. High ranking armor officers eventually talked them into joining the operation.

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