Nablus: Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday evening blocked off all entrances to the Madama village, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to local sources. They reported that the occupying forces entered the village, deploying barrages of concussion and tear gas bombs towards villagers' homes.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the forces imposed a complete closure on the village, restricting all entrances and preventing villagers from entering or leaving. This incident is part of a series of frequent raids and movement restrictions by the Israeli army, impacting the daily life of villagers, including those needing medical treatment in Nablus.
The closure comes amid tightened military measures across the occupied West Bank following the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire that began on January 19, 2025. These measures involve the use of military gates, barriers, and concrete blocks to isolate cities and governorates. Concurrently, there have been ongoing attacks by Israeli colonists in the West Bank to displace Palestinians and seize lands for the construction of illegal Jewish colonies.
Israel maintains severe restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement within the West Bank through a network of approximately 900 fixed and flying checkpoints and gates, with at least 18 gates installed since the start of 2025. These restrictions also include colonist-only roads, over 200 military bases, and other physical barriers. Such closures and measures, justified under security pretexts, aim to reinforce Israel's longstanding military occupation and settler colonial project, often enforced with routine and deadly violence against Palestinians.