Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that Israel closed the area as well as a main road in the town of Beit Jala that leads to the village of al-Walaja and several illegal Israeli settlements, from 6 a.m to 9:30 a.m. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that Israel closed the area as well as a main road in the town of Beit Jala that leads to the village of al-Walaja and several illegal Israeli settlements, from 6 a.m to 9:30 a.m.

Israeli forces deployed heavily in the area around al-Khader and the nearby Route 60, which connects Jerusalem to the southern West Bank district of Hebron. Israeli forces deployed heavily in the area around al-Khader and the nearby Route 60, which connects Jerusalem to the southern West Bank district of Hebron.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports. An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.

Israeli forces regularly close off Palestinian roads and villages in order to accommodate the nearly 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law Israeli forces regularly close off Palestinian roads and villages in order to accommodate the nearly 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces closed the entrance to the Bethlehem-area town of al-Khader, in the southern occupied West Bank, due to a marathon for Israeli settlers that set off from occupied East Jerusalem towards the entrance of al-Khader on Friday morning.