Israeli forces have arrested fourteen Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, witnesses said.

Around 10 Palestinian men looking for iron girders northeast of Beit Lahiyaa were seized and dragged into Israeli vehicles by soldiers patrolling the Gaza-Israel border, the witnesses said on Thursday, Ma’an News Agency reported.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that the Palestinians were taken, adding that the ten had come close to an area considered off-limits to Palestinians. He said they were released shortly thereafter.

Also on Thursday, four Palestinian civilians were detained in the West Bank town of Beit Lahm by the Israeli troops.

Local sources said that troops stormed Beit Lahm near the Church of Nativity and searched homes.

The troops left the area after a while, taking four Palestinian civilians with them, witnesses said.

The army did not give any reason for the detention of the men or the location they have been taken to.

(Press TV)