Israel closes eastern entrance to Salfit, issues demolition notices

Israeli occupation forces closed the eastern entrance to the town of Salfit with a metal barrier, disrupting the movement of residents entering and exiting the area.

Wael Abu Madi, the head of the Yasuf Village Council, said yesterday that Israeli occupation authorities issued two stop-work and construction notices to Jaafar Hamouda in the Al-Shatl area, east of the village, and Al-Nassba Street, which links agricultural lands in the Al-Nassba area to residential homes. The authorities cited the classification of the area as “Zone C” as the reason for the orders.

Abu Madi added that Israeli occupation forces placed a metal gate at the village entrance and photographed residential homes without providing any explanation for their actions.

Israeli authorities routinely restrict urban expansion in the villages and towns of Salfit, citing their classification as “Zone C”, the area of the occupied West Bank which is under both Israeli administrative and military control under the terms of the Oslo Accords.

According to data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli forces and settlers carried out 1,396 attacks on Palestinians and their properties in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in November 2024.

The report also documented 52 demolition operations in the West Bank and Jerusalem, affecting 63 structures, including 27 inhabited homes, two uninhabited houses, 17 agricultural facilities and other properties.

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