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RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces closed all entrances to the Ramallah-area village of Abud, installing checkpoints to prevent cars from entering or leaving the Palestinian village on Sunday evening, local sources told Ma’an.

Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoints initially searched vehicles and civilians passing in and out of the village, but then they closed the roads entirely, denying anyone entry or exit.

Locals hypothesized that the road closures were in preparation of a military operation in the village after Israeli forces failed to find gunmen who opened fired at settlers’ cars in the area.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that they were looking into the reports.

Palestinians accused of attacking Israelis -- or of being affiliated with alleged Palestinian attackers -- face arbitrary punishments in the form of road closures and the sealing of entire villages, resulting in serious economic consequences and effects on mobility that rights group have labeled “collective punishment,” representing a clear violation of international law.