Israel installs over 900 barriers in West Bank, restricting movement

Life for Palestinians in the West Bank has grown increasingly constrained as Israeli authorities have installed a network of over 900 barriers and gates since October 2023. According to a report from the Palestinian Authority's agency combating settlements, this extensive system of iron barriers, earth mounds, and checkpoints has severely disrupted daily life, transforming routine travel into a protracted challenge for the region's three million inhabitants.

A System of Severe Movement Restrictions

The impact on mobility is profound. A journey that would normally take 20 minutes by car can now extend beyond two hours due to the obstacles. The lack of a fixed schedule for the opening and closing of these barriers means Palestinians often find themselves stranded, sometimes forced to spend the night in their vehicles or abandon them to continue on foot. The United Nations has noted that these restrictions impede access not only to work but also to essential services like healthcare and education.

Escalating Violence and Settlement Expansion

The tightening of movement controls coincides with ongoing military operations and violence. Recent simultaneous raids targeted cities including Ramallah and Nablus. In the town of Silwad, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was reportedly killed by Israeli forces. Since October 2023, the Palestinian death toll in the West Bank has surpassed 1,060, with over 20,000 arrests. Concurrently, Israel has advanced plans for approximately 1,300 new housing units in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, with plans for nearly 2,000 more underway, further consolidating its presence in the occupied territory.