The Israeli occupation forces intensified their security measures on Wednesday at most of the entrances and exits of the governorates in the West Bank, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported.
Local sources revealed that the occupation forces obstructed the movement of Palestinians even more than usual around Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron, Jericho and Tubas by closing the Ein Siniya and Atara checkpoints, and keeping the northern entrance to Al-Bireh closed.
Occupied Jerusalem witnessed a long traffic jam after police and soldiers at the Jabaa checkpoint north of the city stopped and searched a line of vehicles heading to the south. Al-Murabba’a and Awarta checkpoints around Nablus also witnessed a traffic jam caused by the occupation soldiers’ inspection of vehicles.
The occupation forces also closed the Hamra checkpoint east of Nablus in both directions, which connects Nablus with Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The sources confirmed that the Zionist forces closed the areas of Ras Al-Joura, Sadat Al-Fahs and Al-Nashash in the Hebron governorate, while the northern entrance to Jericho and Ennab checkpoint south of Tulkarm remained closed.
The Tayasir checkpoint east of Tubas was closed to the movement of Palestinians in both directions. Vehicles were prevented from passing through, making it impossible for locals to reach their workplaces in the northern Jordan Valley.
Director of Education Azmi Balawneh said that about 130 teachers were unable to reach their schools in the northern Jordan Valley, and about 800 male and female students, some of whom travel a great distance to get to school, found that their school buses did not arrive due to the Israeli occupation regime’s oppressive measures.
The occupation forces also closed the Atouf Gate south-east of Tubas to the movement of farmers.
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