Ramallah: Israeli forces have indefinitely closed down the northern entrance to the occupied West Bank twin cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, reports AL Jazeera.

On Saturday night, amid ongoing protests over US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) decided to close off the DCO checkpoint that connects Ramallah to the northern West Bank cities.

“Israel decides to close the DCO checkpoint until further notice due to the ongoing rioting that is taking place at the City Inn roundabout near Ramallah’s entrance,” noted a statement on Twitter by COGAT, the Israeli military body that administers parts of the West Bank.

“The ball is in the Palestinian people’s court and the equation is clear - when peace is restored, normal conditions will resume, but as long as violence continues the border will remain closed.”