Editing Operation Defensive Shield (section)

===Nablus===
{{see also|Battle of Nablus}}
[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Standing Guard in Nablus.jpg|thumb|Israeli soldiers in Nablus]]
[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Paratrooper Brigade Serving During Defensive Shield.jpg|thumb|Israeli paratroopers serving in Nablus as part of Operation Defensive Shield]]

The IDF launched an incursion into [[Nablus]] with two regular infantry brigades and one reserve armored brigade. The city was estimated to have held over 8,000 Palestinian militants, in addition to [[Palestinian National Security Forces|Palestinian security forces]]. Israeli forces quickly occupied most of the city. Clashes took place around refugee camps, and Israeli attack helicopters fired rockets at Palestinian positions in the main square and neighboring streets. The main attack focused on the Nablus Casbah. The [[Golani Brigade]] entered the Casbah, engaging the Palestinians in heavy street combat and using [[armored bulldozer]]s and [[IDF Achzarit|Achzarit]] APCs to clear away barricades. Many militants withdrew to the western part of the city, where they were attacked by the [[Paratroopers Brigade]]. Troops gradually moved into the city by destroying walls within houses to get into the next house (known as [[mouse-holing]]/[[Rhizome Manoeuvre]]), in order to avoid booby-trapped doors and road-side bombs. The paratroopers advanced by sending several small units to take over houses at the same time and confuse the Palestinians, and relied heavily on [[sniper]] units. Palestinian militants often exposed their positions by firing at Israeli forces in another direction. During the battle over 70 Palestinian militants were killed, while the IDF lost one officer to friendly fire.<ref name="hare"/> The Palestinians surrendered on April 8.

Nablus was placed under curfew on April 4, as the battle was beginning. The city remained under curfew until April 22. During the operation, the IDF arrested over 100 Palestinians and discovered several explosives laboratories. High-ranking wanted persons fled east to [[Tubas (city)|Tubas]], and were arrested a week later.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}