Palestinian village sealed off

RAMALLAH: Israeli forces on Monday punitively sealed off a Palestinian village in the central occupied West Bank, reportedly in retaliation for continuous stone-throwing by youth from the area.

Locals in the village of Deir Nitham said Israeli forces closed the main entrances to the village, preventing anyone from going in or out.

The Israeli Army said this was in response to the continuous throwing of rocks by youths of the village at Israeli settlers’ vehicles passing by on a main road.

Israeli forces stopped and searched residents of Deir Nitham, reportedly warning them that they would be raiding the village daily “in order to protect settlers”.

Israel often imposes punitive measures for alleged attacks on Israeli forces.