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HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained three Palestinians on Sunday, after evacuating activists from a building in Hebron's Old City, the Israeli army said.

Youth against Settlements activist Tamer al-Atrash said a group of 30 organized a sit-in at the building belonging to the Women's Society in Hebron, near the Israeli settlement Beit Romano.

They were protesting the seizure by Israeli settlers on Thursday of a nearby house belonging to the Abu Rajab family, he said.

Israeli forces used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to evacuate the sit-in, declaring the area a closed military zone, he added.

An Israeli army spokesman said the house is "deemed government property, entrance to Israeli and Palestinians is forbidden." The protesters were removed by security forces and three Palestinians were arrested, he said.

Locals said Issa Amr, a leader of the youth against settlements group, remained in custody, after several others had been released.

Tamar al-Atrash said the evacuation of the Palestinian sit-in showed the double-standards of Israeli authorities after settlers were able to occupy a Palestinian home.

Israeli ministers were due to meet Monday to discuss the take-over of the Abu Rajab home, Israeli media reported. The settlers said they purchased the property legally, the Israeli daily Haaretz said.

Israeli settlement monitoring group Peace Now said the owners claim that the property was never sold and filed a complaint with the police.

Peace Now says settlers are in any case not allowed to enter the house without the approval of the Israeli defense minister for the purchase of the property, according to laws applied in the West Bank.

Haartez reported that the Israeli army is demanding the settlers be evicted, and called the take-over a provocation, despite support of the settlers from Israeli politicians.

Around 800 Jewish settlers live in Hebron's Old City, among 30,000 Palestinians in the parts of the city that are under Israeli control.

The settlers, many of whom are armed, are guarded by Israeli soldiers stationed in the city who impose strict restrictions on Palestinians' movement.