Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in the West Bank during the war in Gaza, group says

SINJIL West Bank AP Since Israel s war with Hamas began more than two years ago Israel has erected nearly walls in cities and towns in the occupied West Bank further stifling movement for Palestinians and hindering daily lives a local administration body says While Israel s military has long imposed movement and access constraints after capturing the West Bank in the Mideast war the number of new hindrances is unprecedented residents say According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission an official Palestinian governmental body gates blockades and walls have been installed since the Oct Hamas-led attack on Israel Israeli military raids throughout the West Bank have also increased with Palestinians killed or detained Israel says it is trying to root out militancy Among the new limitations are metal gates stationed at a great number of village and town entrances and between cities blocking access in and out Sometimes the Israeli military is stationed at them Palestinians say the gates have erratic opening hours with several staying shut for days Selected people sleep at friends or relatives homes or go around the gates on foot During the first two weeks of September the United Nations announced it documented the installation of gates in the West Bank It explained the gates and other obstacles such as large earth mounds and concrete blocks restrict Palestinians freedom of movement and access to healthcare and guidance The fences are placed in the middle of roads preventing cars from going around them The new gates certain of which block roads connecting the northern and southern West Bank force the territory s million Palestinians to take long detours with a -minute journey now taking more than an hour Israel s military says the gates are not meant to restrict people but rather to manage and monitor A military official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations stated its forces operate under a complex precaution reality in the West Bank where militants embed themselves within the population and accordingly there are dynamic checkpoints and ongoing efforts to monitor movement in various areas Residents say particular gates have been equipped with cameras They also say the obstacles have detrimental effects on their lives Under the current circumstances everything has been cut off Everything has stopped disclosed Ezzedine Al-Sayouri from Deir Dibwan village The gates have prevented people from coming to his gym and he s considering closing the business and leaving the country he declared Residents in the village of Aboud say the entry gates there are closed between a m and a m every day preventing students from going to university and people from going to work It s all part of the occupation s strategy to destabilize the people s sense of defense declared Mohammad Shalatweh a taxi driver Others worry that the added hindrances are a assurance hazard Eyad Jameel a restaurant owner in the village of Sinjil mentioned every time his son goes to the main city of Ramallah he s not sure he ll return They don t consistently open them they just close them and trap everyone he noted Source