By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces extended a curfew on the central West Bank town of Ni’lin for the fourth day on Monday in response to Palestinian demonstrations against the construction of a West Bank barrier.
Local Palestinians said that they have been trapped in their homes for four days, unable to go to work as Israeli soldiers throw sonic bombs near civilian houses, in order “to scare children and to provoke the residents,” as put by one villager.
The Israeli forces imposed the curfew since Friday morning in a bid to prevent demonstrations against the construction of the Israeli wall, which local officials said would result in the de facto annexation of much of the town’s land to Israel.
Israel says that the West Bank barrier, a network of razor-wire fences and concrete barricades, is intended to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers.
Muhammad Srur, a member of “Ni’lin committee for resisting the separation wall,” said Israeli forces seized two young men and abused them during the curfew and ransacked several houses.
The mayor of Ni’lin Ayman Nafi said the town is running low on basic food products such as bread and milk due to the curfew. Military bulldozers have damaged the roads and public property.
Journalists and foreign solidarity activists have been barred from the Palestinian town.