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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Some 400 Israeli settlers entered the village of Awarta in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus in the early morning on Friday and performed religious rituals in the area, according to Israeli sources.

Israel’s Channel 7 reported that the Israeli settlers raided the village as they were escorted by Israeli forces, prompting clashes to erupt between Palestinian youths, Israeli settlers, and soldiers.

Israeli forces reportedly detained seven Palestinians from the village for allegedly throwing rocks at the settlers.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed that Israeli settlers entered the village under the protection of Israeli soldiers to holy sites located near the village, leading to the detention of seven Palestinians after Israeli forces suspected them of "hurling rocks" at Israeli settlers.

Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are surrounded by some 500,000 to 600,000 Israeli settlers residing in at least 196 settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.

All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law.