A bizarre and dangerous incident unfolded in Jericho after six Israeli citizens reportedly rented a villa in the center of the PA-controlled city, placing themselves in serious danger.

According to an initial investigation, Palestinian residents living nearby heard shouting in Hebrew and passed the information to security officials. Civil Administration officers from the Jordan Valley Coordination and Liaison Administration then moved to provide immediate protection and coordinate the Israelis’ extraction with security forces.

The six Israelis were removed from the city and handed over to Israeli security forces. Police in the Judea & Samaria District have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Security officials are again warning Israelis: entering Area A is illegal under Israeli law and can be life-threatening.

The incident comes the same day that 23 Israelis were extracted from Nablus in a separate Area A incident.