Since the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces escalated its assault on Jenin, by enforced the largest scale of road closures and checkpoints in the West Bank since the second Intifada.

• in some instances soldiers are checking a car every 30 mins then closing the checkpoint. Others reported soldiers chatting, laughing, and taking selfies while thousands of vehicles remained stuck for hours.
• The closures are enforced to prevent Palestinians from moving through cities effectively creating a siege surrounding every city from the North to the South.
• Just in Bethlehem, Israeli forces sealed the entrances/exits with 89 gates, barriers, and concrete blocks
• Social Media are used by Palestinian to inform their community about the better way to reach some location.
• The main goal in instauring checkpoints obstruction like Bethlehem, Salfit, Nablus, Jericho, Ramallah, Hebron, is to suffocate Palestinians into submission to the zionist settler colonial project.

Increased Checkpoints and Roadblocks:

Following the ceasefire, Israeli authorities imposed additional measures to strengthen security in the West Bank. According to reports, 146 iron gates were added in January alone, bringing the total number of roadblocks and gates in the West Bank to 898. These barriers have significantly limited Palestinians' ability to move freely between cities and villages, often leaving them stranded for long periods.

Military Justification vs. Public Perception:

The Israeli military justifies the extensive use of checkpoints and gates as a security measure to apprehend militants and prevent "terrorist" attacks on Israel.

However, Palestinians and human rights organizations argue that these measures are punitive and contribute to a broader strategy of control and suppression.Critics, including Israeli human rights groups, suggest that the Israeli government’s actions reflect a shift of focus from Gaza to further control and suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Consequences on daily lives

• The new security measures have disrupted daily activities. For example, residents of towns like Taybeh and Birzeit have reported waiting hours at checkpoints, sometimes stuck in their cars from late afternoon to the early morning.

• Palestinians describe the new conditions as being similar to living in a "cage," where they can only go out during the day and are forced to return home by evening due to the restrictions.

• Impact on ability to work, with Palestinians losing significant amounts of work hours due to long waiting times at checkpoints. This further exacerbates economic strain and complicates daily planning.

• being unable to make even short-term plans due to the unpredictable nature of checkpoint controls.The inability to plan ahead and the feeling of being under constant surveillance contribute to a growing sense of stress and insecurity.

Qalandia checkpoint obstruction

Qalandiya is an Israeli military checkpoint located between Ramallah and Jerusalem in the occupied Palestinian territories. It is a crucial transit point for Palestinians traveling between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank. Approximately 9,000 vehicles pass through Qalandiya checkpoint daily, highlighting its heavy usage and importance for local commuters. Due to Israeli traffic restrictions, the adjacent road has become an essential route for movement from Ramallah to the southern West Bank.

Nablus area obstruction

The Israeli forces tighten their measures at the military checkpoints surrounding the city of Nablus. They set up 10 permanent military checkpoints around the city of Nablus, installed 36 iron gates at its entrances and the surrounding villages, and closed more than 47 sites with earth mounds, preventing thousands of local residents from reaching their homes and destinations

On January 26 :

Salfit:

A military checkpoint was established near the entrance to Qarawat Bani Hassan, causing major traffic congestion. Entrances to the city of Salfit and the villages of Bruqin, Kifl Haris, Deir Istiya, and Kafr Ad-Dik were blocked by metal gates, limiting access.

Bethlehem:

The Israeli military sealed the main entrance to the village of Al-Manshiya by locking its iron gate late last night. This closure cuts off the only road connecting rural southern areas to Bethlehem, a key city for services and commerce.

Northeastern West Bank (Jordan Valley):

Israeli forces strengthened restrictions at the Tayasir and Hamra checkpoints in the northern Jordan Valley. Palestinian vehicles were blocked from passing through these checkpoints, causing long queues and significant delays.

Ramallah Area (Central West Bank):

The Israeli military significantly increased restrictions around the city of Ramallah. Key roads were closed, including the Birzeit-Attara gate, the northern entrance to Al-Bireh, and the Nabi Saleh gate to the northwest. Intense searches were conducted at the Ein Sinya checkpoint, causing severe traffic jams. A new military checkpoint was installed at the entrance to the village of Aboud, northwest of Ramallah, severely impacting local traffic. At the Attara checkpoint, identity card checks were conducted, leading to significant delays and disruptions.

Mustafa Barghouti @Mustafa_Barghouti statement

"There is an Israeli war of checkpoints in the West Bank. The Israeli army is enhancing its collective punishment against millions of Palestinians in the West Bank . It increased the number of military checkpoints in the West Bank to 898. Each checkpoint is designed to be a place for harassment, humiliation, and obstruction of movement. It often also becomes a dangerous place where many Palestinians are killed. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the checkpoints were ordered by the Israeli Government to obstruct and harass Palestinian civilian movement in the West Bank during the period of the ceasefire in Gaza. According to Haaretz, many Palestinians spend long hours waiting at checkpoints, sometimes for 5-8 hours. According to reports we received, many Palestinians had to spend several nights in other cities or villages they were visiting for work, business or medical care because they couldn’t travel back to their homes since the Israeli army closed down the gates or the checkpoints to their towns or villages. Many of the checkpoints are gates that the army can close any time, and as long as they wish. A trip from Ramallah to Jericho, which usually takes 45 minutes, can now take 5 hours some days. Most of the movement from the South and North of the West Bank is paralyzed while illegal Israeli settlers move freely and continue to attack Palestinian cars on the roads. The gates and oppressive checkpoints are not only a system of collective punishment but are also consolidating the Israeli apartheid against Palestinians."