Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli soldiers assaulted four Palestinian workers on Tuesday night in the West Bank village of Al-Walajah, near Bethlehem, witnesses told Ma’an.

Residents of the village described how the soldiers broke the legs of three men, and arrested a fourth, taking him to an unknown detention center. Three of the men were dragged to a field in Al-Walajah, the witnesses added.

The reason for the reported assault was unclear.

Residents of Al-Walajah said three of the men were taken to the hospital in the neighboring town of Beit Jala.

One of the men was identified as Anees Kabha, a resident of the northern West Bank.

A military spokesman said he was not aware of any reported incident, and that the area was under the jurisdiction of the border police.