Israeli army closes most Ramallah checkpoints in central occupied West Bank for 2nd day

The Israeli army continued for a second day on Friday to close most military checkpoints and iron gates surrounding the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate and nearby Palestinian towns and villages in the central occupied West Bank.

The closures have prevented Palestinians from moving between areas of the governorate and reaching their homes, leaving large numbers stranded, particularly since Thursday night, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

Israeli forces closed most iron gates and set up military checkpoints on several roads, while the Atara and Ein Sinya checkpoints north of Ramallah remained closed.

Israeli forces also continued to operate a checkpoint and conduct searches along the Yabroud-Silwad road northeast of Ramallah, obstructing the movement of Palestinians traveling between towns and villages in the area.

The army also closed an iron gate at the entrance to Al-Taybeh village east of Ramallah and another at the entrance to Rawabi city west of the governorate, disrupting traffic in both directions.

Israeli forces also continued to keep the Jaba military checkpoint northeast of Jerusalem closed, causing a large buildup of Palestinian vehicles, with lines of traffic stretching to the entrance of Al-Ram town.

The prolonged closure and congestion forced Palestinians to spend hours inside their vehicles, with many sleeping in them, according to the Anadolu correspondent.

The measures come amid increased Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement across the occupied West Bank through the closure of military checkpoints and iron gates and the establishment of temporary checkpoints, isolating towns and villages and obstructing access to workplaces, homes and service centers.

Since Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, the Israeli army and settlers have intensified attacks across the West Bank, killing more than 1,206 Palestinians, injuring more than 13,300 and arresting nearly 26,000, according to Palestinian figures.

The attacks have also included the demolition of homes and structures, the burning of mosques, the bulldozing of fields, the prevention of farmers from accessing their land, displacement of Palestinians and settlement expansion.

Palestinians warn that the escalating attacks are part of Israeli efforts to impose new realities on the ground to pave the way for annexing the West Bank, undermining the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders in line with relevant UN resolutions.