ldiers and settlers have also been killed by Palestinian militants
from Nablus. In April 2002, following the Passover massacre — an attack by
Palestinian militants that killed 30 Israeli civilians attending a seder dinner
at the Park Hotel in Netanya — Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield, a
major military operation in which Nablus was one of the main targets. At least
80 Palestinians were killed in Nablus during the operation and several houses
were destroyed or severely damaged. The IDF also imposed a curfew on Nablus
lasting between April 4 and April 22. IDF forces reentered Nablus during Operation
Determined Path in June 2002, remaining inside the city until the end of
September. Over those three months, there had been more than 70 days of full
24-hour curfews.
According to Gush Shalom, IDF bulldozers caused damage to
al-Khadra Mosque, the Great Mosque, al-Satoon Mosque and Greek Orthodox Church
in 2002. Some 60 houses were destroyed, and parts of the stone-paving in the
old city were damaged. The al-Shifa hammam was hit by three rockets from Apache
helicopters. The eastern entrance of the Khan al-Wikala (old market) and three
soap factories were destroyed in F-16 bombings. The cost of the damage was
estimated at $80 million US
