Israeli forces stormed the Nablus Mall in the northern West Bank city on Monday.

Merchants at the mall said that Israeli forces ransacked retail stores at 2:30 am, breaking the main gate and searching all 50 shops inside the mall.

Eyewitnesses also said that Israeli forces spoke to a Palestinian citizen, living next to the mall giving him directives that entry to the mall is absolutely forbidden. However, the security guard said he was unaware of the Israeli directives.

Nablus Mall has 50 shops and offices, including the Al-Itiman company, which has a capital of 4 million Jordanian Dinars (5.64 million US dollars). Israel says this company funds Hamas and 'encourages terrorism.' The head of the Mall administration Adli Yayish has been in Israeli custody for a year and a half, accused of being affiliated to Hamas.

The Israeli army told shop owners this week that the property rights to the Nablus mall will be transferred to Israel as of 15th August. The army said they will imprison anyone who enters the building for 5 years. The mall, they claimed, is being used to fund terrorist activities.