Palestinian sources confirmed that the Israeli occupation army has tightened its military grip on the West Bank, transforming its cities and villages into what resembles closed prisons by deploying hundreds of checkpoints, crossings, and iron gates. The Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouti, explained that this systematic closure has led to a severe paralysis in vital facilities, especially the health and education sectors, in addition to the severe damage inflicted on the national economy and social interaction.
These repressive measures coincide with the widespread military aggression launched by the occupation army, in cooperation with US forces, against the Islamic Republic of Iran under the name of 'Operation Lion's Roar'. Israeli decisions included closing all crossings in the occupied Palestinian territories until further notice, with very limited exceptions for so-called 'vital workers' under strict restrictions whose mechanisms have not yet been detailed.
In a related context, field sources reported that the occupation army continues its military escalation on various fronts, launching intensive airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting various areas in the Gaza Strip, including Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah, and the Shuja'iyya and Tuffah neighborhoods. Despite the ceasefire agreement coming into effect last October, continuous Israeli violations have resulted in the martyrdom of hundreds of Palestinians and the destruction of what remained of the infrastructure.
Official statistics indicate that occupation attacks in the West Bank since October 2023 have led to the martyrdom of more than 1,118 Palestinians and the injury of approximately 11,700 others, while arrests have exceeded 22,000 detainees. These policies, according to observers, aim to impose new geographical and demographic realities on the ground, exploiting the regional preoccupation with widespread military operations.
Regionally, the aggression did not stop at the borders of Palestine but extended to include widespread raids on Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, exacerbating tensions in the region. These developments came at a time when the White House announced the United States' involvement in large-scale combat operations, reflecting high-level military coordination aimed at reshaping the balance of power in the Middle East through military force.
In the Gaza Strip, the occupation still controls about 53% of the Strip's area, with continued targeting of civilians in the eastern areas of Gaza City and the town of Beit Lahia. The total death toll from the ongoing aggression for two years has exceeded 72,000 martyrs and approximately 171,000 injured, amid destruction affecting 90% of civilian and service facilities, making daily life for residents almost impossible.
Experts believe that turning the West Bank into human enclaves represents the culmination of the collective punishment policy pursued by the occupation to break the will of Palestinians and prevent any popular movement supporting other fronts. The continued closure of crossings and the geographical division of governorates threaten an imminent humanitarian catastrophe, given the depletion of essential medical supplies and the difficulty for students and employees to reach their workplaces and educational institutions.
Cutting off the West Bank through checkpoints and closures practically represents imposing a curfew between Palestinian areas and governorates.
شارك برأيك
Occupation Imposes Comprehensive Siege on West Bank, Turning Its Towns into Isolated Prisons