Israeli forces deny imposition of closed military zone on Ramallah

Israeli forces have encircled the Palestinian city of Ramallah and al-Bireh, the administrative centre of the Palestinian Authority, for nearly two days - but the Israeli army told Middle East Eye that it had not declared the city a closed military zone.

"The city of Ramallah is open to people wishing to enter it, " an army spokesperson told MEE on Friday. "There are additional security checks taking place at different entrances to the city but it's not closed."

The spokesperson said they could not immediately comment on whether Ramallah had officially been a closed military zone earlier in the week.

Despite the army's official denial, Palestinian news outlets were reporting that Israeli forces were still cutting the city off from its surroundings for a second consecutive day.

Official PA news agency Wafa said the Israeli army had sealed off some of the main entrances to the city - the DCO and Atara checkpoints, the Ein Sinya and Oyoun al-Haramiya intersections, as well as the Silwad bridge.

While the situation has intensified in the Ramallah area since Wednesday evening, Israeli forces have ramped up their presence in the central West Bank ever since a drive-by shooting outside the illegal settlement of Ofra on Sunday.