Qalqilya: Israeli forces on Tuesday evening obstructed the movement of Palestinians at the entrance of Habla town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya, according to eyewitnesses. They reported that the occupation forces set up a checkpoint at the town entrance, stopping Palestinian-licensed vehicles and inspecting passengers' ID cards.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the occupation forces have tightened military measures across the occupied West Bank hours after the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire went into effect on January 19. This strategy involves dismembering and isolating cities and governorates from one another through the use of military gates, barriers, and concrete blocks.
The Israeli military measures coincide with ongoing attacks by Israeli colonists across the West Bank, aimed at terrorizing Palestinians and displacing them from their lands to make way for illegal Jewish colonies. These colonies are designed to separate Palestinian communities, further entrenching Israel's control over the region.
Israel imposes severe restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement within the occupied West Bank using a complex system of approximately 898 fixed and flying checkpoints and gates. This includes 18 gates installed since the start of 2025 and 146 others established after October 7, 2023. Alongside settler-only roads, over 200 military bases, and various other physical barriers, these restrictions are part of a broader strategy.
The closures and additional measures, often justified under the guise of security, are intended to solidify Israel's 58-year-old military occupation of the West Bank. This occupation is part of a settler colonial project enforced with routine and frequently deadly violence against Palestinians.