JERUSALEM, December 5, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli forces stopped a busload of passengers and assaulted some of them at Beit Iksa checkpoint, to the northwest of Jerusalem, according to local sources.

Soldiers at the checkpoint shut down the checkpoint, which is the main and only entrance to the village, and stopped a busload of about 20 passengers for more than three hours and reportedly assaulted a girl who was among them.

Clashes erupted between local villagers and the Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint in the aftermath of the incident. There were no reports of injuries among the Palestinians.

Mohammad Awadallah, member of Beit Iksa village council, said Israeli forces recently stepped up their provocative measures at the checkpoint, frequently harassing passengers especially women.

Palestinian transport is restricted or entirely prohibited on 41 roads and sections of roads throughout the West Bank, including many of the main traffic arteries, covering a total of over 700 kilometers of roadway, according to rights groups.

M.N/M.H