West Bank (CNN) -- Hundreds of Israeli police swarmed a makeshift Palestinian protest camp early Sunday morning, taking dozens of activists into custody for questioning before releasing them later. The operation marked the latest saga in the bitter back-and-forth over Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank. The camp, which protesters dubbed Bab Alshams, sprung up Thursday, in a roughly 12-square kilometer (5-square mile) area Israel has dubbed E1. In recent weeks, Israel has signaled its intention to construct settlements in the area. Some international leaders have criticized such a plan, as have Palestinian leaders who say it would slice the West Bank in two, cutting it off from the proposed Palestinian capital of East Jerusalem.
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Palestinian activists set up a protest village in an area slated for Israeli settlement
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Israeli authorities ordered them to leave; police executed that order early Sunday
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More than 60 activists were taken into custody, then later released, police say
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Critical Palestinian leaders say the settlements would cut the West Bank in two
The protest camp -- consisting of chanting activists and tents dotting an otherwise barren hilltop -- sprung up due to Israel's recently announced plans to build 3,000 housing units in @placeholder and the West Bank.