Gaza: Israeli forces have continued, for the sixth consecutive day, to close the entrance to the village of Nabi Elias, east of Qalqilya, with an iron gate, restricting the movement of approximately 60,000 residents from the village and surrounding towns and villages and paralyzing commercial activity along the main road, which contains around 200 industrial, commercial, and service establishments.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Nabi Elias Village Council Secretary Louay Khalif stated that the closure has significantly disrupted the daily lives of the residents and the operations of numerous vehicles, including private cars, commercial vehicles, and public transportation. The entrance to Nabi Elias is a crucial route for residents traveling to and from the governorates of Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Nablus.
Khalif highlighted that the alternative route now taken by residents adds approximately 40 kilometers to their journeys, requiring an additional 30 to 40 minutes compared to the usual route. This has exacerbated the economic challenges faced by the community. The closure has particularly affected the main road through the village, which hosts about 200 establishments employing around 400 local workers. The restriction has brought commercial activity to a halt, inflicting financial losses on business owners due to reduced customer access.
Farmers have also been hit hard by the closure. Khalif noted that about 100 farmers have been unable to harvest their guava crops, which are located on approximately 200 dunums of land outside the gate. The inability to access their land and transport produce to markets has caused direct financial losses, as guavas are highly perishable and need to be delivered promptly to central markets, especially during the harvest season.
Khalif has called for the reopening of the entrance and an end to the movement restrictions to allow residents to access their workplaces, businesses, land, and homes freely.
The closure is part of broader Israeli measures targeting roads and communities in the eastern Qalqilya Governorate. On August 26, Israeli forces also shut down the Jayyous Bridge-Nabi Elias road and the Azzun Bridge-Jayyous road with iron gates, disrupting major routes and forcing residents to use detours.
Amir Daoud, director of the Documentation Department at the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, informed WAFA that Israeli interests in Nabi Elias are longstanding due to its strategic location. The village historically functioned as a major thoroughfare and commercial hub, with Road 55, now the Qalqilya-Nablus road, running through it. In 2017, Israel planned an alternative road to bypass Nabi Elias, aiming to isolate it and tighten control over its lands.
Daoud connected the current situation with the village's proximity to the Alfei Menashe settlement, which is part of broader settlement expansion plans. The closure and restrictions have intensified since October 7, 2023, turning the village into an isolated enclave. Data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicate a surge in Israeli attacks and measures in Qalqilya Governorate, including the demolition of 57 structures in May and attempts to establish a new settlement outpost.