Since the launch of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, "Israel" has installed nearly 1,000 new military checkpoints, gates, and roadblocks throughout cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, severely restricting the movement of Palestinians and disrupting daily life, according to a Palestinian government body cited by the The Washington Post on Thursday.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, an official Palestinian agency, reported that 916 barriers have been erected across the West Bank since the beginning of the war on Gaza, in what residents are calling the most extensive clampdown on movement in years.
While "Israel" has enforced restrictions in the West Bank since its occupation began in 1967, the recent expansion marks an unprecedented level of control, residents say.
According to WP, the new barriers include metal gates at the entrances of towns and villages, as well as between cities, with the gates being manned by occupation forces. Residents say the openings are erratic, with some gates remaining closed for days, forcing Palestinians to walk long distances, stay with relatives, or abandon plans to move from one place to another altogether.
According to the United Nations, 18 gates were installed in the first two weeks of September alone. These include not only gates but large earth mounds and concrete blocks, often placed in the middle of roads to block vehicle access.
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