Gaza: Israeli authorities have tightened military restrictions on several villages northwest of occupied Jerusalem, imposing new measures that hinder residents of Nabi Samuel, Beit Iksa, and the Khalaileh neighborhood, affecting their access to their homes and lands. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Jerusalem Governorate reported that Israeli authorities recently imposed special permits on residents of these areas to travel to and from their homes. This move further isolates these communities and restricts the movement of their residents.
The governorate also documented the suspension of entry permits for members of the family of Hajj Sharif Awadallah at the Al-Jib military checkpoint, preventing them from reaching their home in the eastern part of Qalandia village, within Jerusalem municipality boundaries. In Beit Iksa, approximately ten residents have been prevented from reaching their homes for the past two days, under the pretext of lacking the necessary permits or having a so-called "security ban" against them.
Citizen Mohammed Zayed stated that Beit Iksa, like other villages northwest of Jerusalem, lies behind a military checkpoint and is considered a contact zone. He pointed out that late last year, Israeli authorities issued a decision requiring residents of these areas to obtain special magnetic cards, restricting entry to those holding these cards. He added that these measures have posed an obstacle from the outset for released prisoners and individuals subject to "security bans," as they faced difficulty in obtaining the magnetic cards and entry permits.
Zayed noted that residents were surprised when the checkpoint was completely closed for more than six hours before reopening around 4:00 AM. Several residents, including Zayed, were informed that their entry to the village was now prohibited and that their names had been removed from the checkpoint's designated list. Around ten residents remain unable to return to their homes, awaiting permission to cross the checkpoint and reach their village. The restrictions come amid a broader tightening of Israeli measures on Palestinian movement in villages northwest of Jerusalem, further deepening residents' daily hardships and isolating their communities from their surroundings.