Fears Israeli forces turning Sebastia into garrison to ‘Judaize’ site
The archaeological site at Sebastia
The New Arab reports on 27 August 2025:
Israeli forces have turned the historic town of Sebastia, northwest of Nablus, into a military garrison amid fears that it could be annexed and its archaeological heritage “Judaized”, local officials warned on Wednesday.
The large-scale raid, described as the most intense since the first Palestinian Intifada in 1987, has seen homes seized, streets locked down, and residents terrorised for two consecutive days.
“For the second day in a row, Israeli forces have stormed Sebastia in an unprecedented manner since 1987,” said Mohammad Azem, the town’s mayor, to The New Arab’s Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
“The historic town may face days, perhaps weeks, of siege and raids,” he added.
Azem said the operation began Tuesday at Sebastia’s archaeological site, where troops expelled shopkeepers and closed tourism kiosks before expanding into the Old Town. Snipers were deployed on rooftops, dozens of homes were raided, and residents were interrogated in the streets.