Movement across the occupied West Bank has become increasingly arduous for Palestinians, who are now compelled to wait for days at newly erected gates and barriers set up by Israel, as nearly 1,000 obstacles have been installed since the war with Hamas began more than two years ago.
The restrictions, which have sharply curtailed daily life and mobility, have compounded existing hardships in cities and villages, making even short journeys unpredictable and prolonged, Arab News reported.
According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, an official Palestinian governmental body, 916 gates, barriers, and walls have been established since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
These installations have added to the network of movement constraints long imposed since Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast war, yet the recent surge in such obstructions marks an unprecedented tightening, residents say, as many find themselves cut off from workplaces, schools and healthcare facilities.
The new barriers, including metal gates positioned at village entrances and between cities, frequently remain shut for days, while some are intermittently opened for limited hours, forcing people to seek temporary shelter with relatives or to walk around them on foot.
The United Nations reported that 18 new gates were installed in the first half of September alone, noting that earth mounds, concrete blocks and other obstacles now interrupt main roads, preventing cars from passing and forcing detours that turn 20-minute drives into journeys of more than an hour.
Israeli authorities maintain that the gates serve to manage and monitor movement rather than restrict it, citing a complex security reality in the West Bank where militants are said to operate within civilian areas. Military raids have also intensified, resulting in casualties and detentions, as Israel claims to be targeting militant activity.
However, Palestinian residents contend that the measures have paralysed local economies and daily routines, with small business owners struggling to sustain operations and students facing repeated disruptions to their education. Villages such as Aboud and Sinjil have seen gates closed during crucial morning hours, preventing workers and students from reaching their destinations.
With cameras reportedly mounted on several gates and constant uncertainty surrounding when they might open, many Palestinians describe the situation as one of confinement within their own towns. As businesses falter, education is obstructed and travel times multiply, the growing web of barriers has come to symbolise both physical and psychological entrapment across the occupied West Bank.