Israel chokes West Bank movement amid Jewish holiday

Israel has imposed stricter movement restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, causing significant delays and hardships. Since September 25, 2026, the Israeli army has blocked roads, set up checkpoints, and erected iron gates and earth mounds in several towns and villages, including on secondary roads.

Prominent examples of these checkpoints include Atara and Ein Siniya north of Ramallah, as well as Jaba’ northeast of Jerusalem, which have caused long waiting times, particularly during peak hours. These restrictions have disrupted daily life for thousands of Palestinians, with journeys that normally take only 30 minutes now extending into hours-long delays.

Taxi driver Attaf Abu Aliya described how he and others are forced to wait for hours at checkpoints, disrupting students' university classes and causing general disruption. The situation becomes even more challenging when settlers take control of checkpoints, leading to further delays and harassment. The restrictions have also hampered ambulance crews' ability to reach emergency patients promptly, as they face stricter checks and longer travel times due to closed checkpoints and iron gates.

One incident saw an ambulance crew unable to reach an elderly woman near Salfit in time, resulting in her death. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that these movement restrictions are severely affecting Palestinians' access to healthcare, education, work, agricultural land, and basic services.