BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces arrested three teenage shepherds in the south Hebron hills on Friday after settlers complained to Israeli police that the boys had damaged a settlement fence, an international peace group said Saturday.

The boys, aged 14, 15, and 16, were grazing their sheep near at-Tuwani village, located opposite Maon settlement, when two settlers approached them in a car and began filming them, Operation Dove said.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli forces arrived in the area and arrested the boys, telling them that settlers had accused them of damaging the fence of a cherry tree field.

The boys were taken to Kiryat Arba police station.

An international observer accompanying the teenagers testified that they did not damage the fence.

Israeli police have issued a bail of 500 shekels ($135) for each teenager, which the boys' parents say they will not pay on the grounds that there is not a valid reason for their arrest.

Israeli authorities have outlined plans to demolish and evacuate eight villages in the south Hebron hills area to make space for a military training zone.