Following an official hand over of military control to Palestinian Authority Security forces one week earlier, Israeli military vehicles were reported moving near the former government compound toward Joseph's Tomb.

Informed Palestinian security sources said the Israeli military had informed the appropriate officials ahead of what was described as a "security activity" in the eastern sector of Nablus, in the region of the Balata refugee camp mid-morning on Friday.

Following the warning, the security source said Palestinian personnel were removed from the area, "focusing their work on the western and central areas of the city."

The source said that Israeli military officials who informed the PA offices declined to give information on the nature of the activity, and even refused to give an exact location. PA forces were told that the action could take several hours.

Residents said soldiers erected a checkpoint near Beit Iba, on the western flank of the city.