Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday maintained the closure of the northern entrance to Tuqu village in southeastern Bethlehem for the fifth consecutive day.
Local sources reported that the IOF prevented residents from entering or leaving the town after closing the iron gate.
During the last two weeks the townspeople responded to settlers’ attempts to storm the archaeological area in the village which led to the outbreak of confrontations between Palestinian youths and the IOF soldiers.
On February 9 2021 one of the IOF soldiers was injured after being thrown with stones during clashes in the town. The soldier was hit by a stone that injured his foot.
Tuqu is subjected to constant attacks by IOF and settlers as the occupation opened in 1979 a road in the lands of local citizens to connect the neighboring settlements and outposts.
IOF confiscated dozens of agricultural and pastoral dunums by military decisions of the so-called Civil Administration and the occupation army.
Tuqu is surrounded by five settlements three of them at the northeastern side of the town and two settlements at the southern side of the town.
