Introduction:
Military checkpoints are used by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) as a tool to exercise their full control as part of their settler-colonial project based on the geographic and demographic fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). In parallel with settlement expansion in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, and the construction of bypass roads and the annexation wall deep into the oPt, the IOF, for decades, have intensified the establishment of military checkpoints. These checkpoints have turned the Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps into isolated cantons, severely restricting movement between them.
Since the onset of the genocidal campaign on the Gaza Strip on 07 October 2023, the IOF have imposed further restrictions on freedom of movement by establishing more metal detector gates and permanent and temporary military checkpoints across the West Bank. Additionally, there has been a significant surge in the number of military checkpoints, particularly following the start of the Gaza ceasefire. This indicates that the IOF are exploiting the ceasefire in Gaza to escalate their violations and crimes in the West Bank, whether by setting up more checkpoints, expanding their incursions into the Palestinian cities and refugee camps, or launching large-scale military operations, as is currently happening in northern West Bank.
According to information gathered by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)’s researchers, since 19 January 2025, the IOF have began increasing the number of military checkpoints, establishing 17 metal detector gates and numerous temporary checkpoints at the entrances of Palestinian cities and villages, as well as along roads across the West Bank. They have furthered restrictions on freedom of movement between these cities and villages, further isolating them from one another. The intensified presence of these checkpoints and metal detector gates is part of the IOF’s policy to strangle the West Bank and tighten their control and sovereignty over it. It is also part of the broader annexation plan aimed at tightening restrictions on the Palestinians, destroying life essentials and restricting their freedom of movement.
According to statistics published by the Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission, the IOF have established 898 temporary and permanent military checkpoints, metal detector gates, sand berms, and cement cubes across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. These checkpoints are distributed as follows:
The Following is part of our researchers’ field documentation and monitoring of the new Israeli restrictions imposed on freedom of movement in the West Bank:
Military Checkpoints and Metal Detector Gates in Jerusalem
On the early morning of Sunday, 19 January 2025, the IOF tightened their military measures at all military checkpoints in and around occupied East Jerusalem. They repeatedly closed some of the checkpoints and several metal detector gates at the entrances to the city’s villages and neighborhoods. This caused significant traffic jams, exacerbating the suffering of tens of thousands of Jerusalemites who struggle to reach their workplaces, schools, and universities, and restricting their freedom of movement.
In this context, al-Jaba’ military checkpoint has witnessed repeated closures since Sunday morning and is still closed up to this date. This coincided with tightening military measures at the nearby Qalandia checkpoint. The IOF have also established a new metal detector gate on the dirt road adjacent to the Jaba’ checkpoint, further worsening the already existing traffic jam, which began at 05:00 and lasted until midnight.
Ahmed Hasan shared his suffering while passing through the al-Jaba’ military checkpoint with PCHR’s researcher, saying:
“I live with my family in al-Matar neighborhood in Kafr ‘Aqab village. I work in Israel, while my wife is a teacher in a school in Beit Hanina, which is only 10 minutes away from Kafr ‘Aqab village. My children study in schools near their mother’s work in Beit Hanina. We all wake up at around 3:30 and leave our house at 4:00 to avoid the traffic jam caused by the closure of the Jaba’ checkpoint at around 5:00. Due to the traffic jam, we spend several hours getting home and usually miss lunch. The time we spend at home is limited to sleeping hours and holidays. The traffic jam have become like a prison. Like everyone else, I am psychologically stressed in my social and family life. I often feel helpless, especially in front of my children, as I see them exhausted from waking up early, particularly in the bitter cold rainy weather. Our humanitarian situation is extremely dire, despite holding Israeli blue IDs. We cannot leave our jobs in Jerusalem, encircled by checkpoints, due to the deteriorating economic conditions. Also, we cannot leave our home and rent another one in Beit Hanina because of the high rents and the scarcity of houses amid Israel’s home demolitions policy in the city and limited number of building licenses granted by the Israeli municipality. This has created a severe housing crisis in Jerusalem, forcing many people to live in Kafr ‘Aqab village despite the checkpoints, traffic jams, and poor services.”
Since Sunday morning, the IOF have imposed tight military measures at Az-Za’im, Shu’fat Camp, and Hizma checkpoints, causing severe traffic jam and restricting individuals’ movement. These measures have also affected the lives of those living in the neighborhoods near these military checkpoints.
It is worth noting that there are 82 military checkpoints and metal detector gates1 in occupied East Jerusalem. On 19 January 2025, the IOF established a new metal detector gate near al-Jaba’ military checkpoint that separates al-Ram village from Jaba’ village. This checkpoint is considered the main entrance to Ramallah and Al-Bireh and Jerusalem governorates.
Military Checkpoints and Metal Detector Gates in Bethlehem
Since the early morning of Sunday, 19 January 2025, the IOF have tightened their military measures at al-Nashnash military checkpoint in southern Bethlehem and at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem. They have also closed several metal detector gates established at the entrances to Bethlehem’s cities and villages, partially isolating them from each other. The IOF have also closed the metal detector gate established at the entrance to ‘Aush Ghurab area, east of Beit Sahour, with a scheduled reopening time from 06:00 to 15:00. They also closed the western entrance to Husan village, with a scheduled reopening from 06:00 to 10:30. The metal detector gates established at the entrances to Beit_Fajjar, Teqoa, Jannatah, Al-Khader, and Husan villages were closed, as well as the two metal detector gates established at Qaber al-Helwa intersection and ‘Aush Ghuran area in eastern Beit Sahour. Additionally, the IOF closed the metal detector gate established at the entrance to Al-Khader village’s cemetery, known as al-Banasher road, and the two metal detector gates established at al-Iskanat entrance and on al-Seder Road, north of Beit Jala.
Hasan Braijiyah, a researcher in settlement activity in Bethlehem, told PCHR’s researcher:
“Since the onset of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the IOF have established dozens of metal detector gates, including 53 gates within Bethlehem. Most of these gates are closed, and the IOF do not allow Palestinians to pass through them. They have also closed 36 roads with sand berms or cement cubes. The closure of military checkpoints and metal detector gates at the entrances to Palestinian cities and villages has partially isolated them from each other and restricted people’s movement. This has negatively affected the economic situation, as the percentage of families living below the poverty line in Bethlehem has risen to 36%. One of the reasons for this increase is the difficulty these families face in mobility, as confirmed by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
Military Checkpoints in Hebron
Since 19 January 2025, the Israeli authorities have imposed a complete closure on Hebron, closing the metal detector gates established on roads leading to the city, except for one road, where they established a military checkpoint. They have also placed sand berms at some of these gates and on side roads used by the city’s residents. Additionally, the IOF intensified their measures against the residents in the closed area in the city center and subjected them to mistreatment.
It is worth noting that since 07 October 2023, the Israeli authorities have set up metal detector gates at all intersections and streets connecting Hebron’s villages and cities and closed all dirt and side roads with sand berms and rocks. The Israeli authorities have also disconnected the different parts of the city and imposed a collective punishment policy on its residents. Fifty metal detector gates have been established in Hebron.
The Israeli authorities have imposed collective punishment against Hebron’s residents, with the harshest measure being the closure of Fawwar refugee camp in southern Hebron. This has isolated around 20,000 Palestinians, forcing them to walk 2 kilometers while being subjected to searches and mistreatment. Additionally, the eastern neighborhoods of Hebron’s Old City (Al-Ras and Harat Jaber), along with parts of the H2 area, have been placed under complete closure. In the first months of the war, the Israeli authorities imposed a curfew on these areas, isolating them from the rest of the city and prohibiting non-residents from entering or exiting. Hebron’s residents have also been subjected to ill-treatment in detention centers newly-established near the “Kiryat Arba” settlement, where many have been detained and physically assaulted. PCHR has documented dozens of testimonies from residents of the camp, nearby villages, and the closed area in Hebron regarding the collective punishment policy imposed on them.
Regarding mistreatment at military checkpoints, Yousef Ziydan al-Shurbati (17) said to PCHR’s researcher:
“I live with my family on the closed Shuhada Street near Beit Hadassah checkpoint in Hebron’s Old City. Everyday, I pass through Shoter 65 checkpoint established at the entrance to the closed Shuhada Street, leading to the city center. At around 16:00 on Tuesday, 07 January 2025, I arrived at the checkpoint to return home. The checkpoint opens from 07:00 to 21:00 or sometimes at the whim of the soldiers. When I reached the checkpoint, I handed my ID card to the Israeli soldiers stationed there and obeyed their orders, looking at the camera fixed inside the room established at the checkpoint for a security check. Then, one of the soldiers looked at me and ordered me to hand over my cellphone. He then approached, took my cellphone, and ordered me to pass through the metal detector gate four times for inspection. I was forced to take off my upper clothing and taken to the room at the checkpoint while the soldier was inspecting my cellphone. Inside the room, I saw my friend, Odai Abu ‘Aisha, blindfolded and handcuffed. As the soldier continued searching through my phone, he glanced at Abu ‘Aisha, then ordered me to approach. He grabbed my jacket and used it to blindfold me before tying my hands behind my back with my belt. I was forced to kneel on the ground amid the bitter cold weather as I was only wearing a light blouse. I tried to move, but the soldiers punched me on my shoulders and kicked me below my thighs. The blows were very painful, especially in the bitter cold. The soldiers then took me into the room at the checkpoint, forced me to kneel, and insulted me and my mother with bad words. They continued beating and kicking me on my legs. Shortly after, they played Hebrew songs and ordered me to sing along, repeatedly chanting, “long live the People of Israel.” I was kept there until 20:00 before being released.”
Besieging Deir Istiya Village in Salfit
On Sunday morning, 18 January 2025, as part of the tight restrictions imposed 15 days earlier on the village, including closing and besieging it with sand berms and military checkpoints, the IOF have established a metal detector gate at the main entrance to Deir Istiya village in northern Salfit, restricting people’s movement. As a result, the village’s residents are forced to take long bypass roads to reach their destinations, particularly Salfit. This significantly increases their financial burden, as they have to pay high transportation costs and endure hours-long journeys. Additionally, they face the constant risk of sudden checkpoint closures by the IOF and potential settler violence along these bypass roads.
It is worth noting that on 14 January 2025, the IOF closed the bypass road that the village’s residents used as an alternative to the village main entrance. The IOF placed a truck belonging to one of the residents under the narrow bridge—wide enough for only one vehicle to pass—and then confiscated its key, intentionally to block traffic. As a result, residents were trapped in their vehicles and forced to wait for hours in the surrounding olive fields, hoping for the bridge to reopen. Eventually, they had no choice but to take a long dirt road filled with rocks, trucks, and bulldozers, noting that the direct road from Deir Istiya village to Salfit is only 3 kilometers, while the alternative road under the bridge is 5 kilometers with the long dirt road takes 12 kilometers more than the main road. This has worn out the residents financially and physically.
Other Military Checkpoints and Barriers
Since 19 January 2025, the IOF have established in Nablus several metal detector gates at the entrances to An-Naqura, Bizzariya, Awarta, Odala, Huwara, and Beit Furik villages.
They have also closed several roads with sand berms and cement cubes. Among those roads was the sub-road behind Huwara Secondary School in Huwara village, southeast of Nablus, which was closed with sand berms, noting that it is the only outlet for Huwara village’s residents when the metal detector gates are closed. The IOF also closed with sand berms Zawata village’s entrance, north of Nablus, and the dirt road in Deir Sharaf village, west of Nablus.
In Ramallah, the IOF established metal detector gates at the entrances to Kafr Malik, Silwad, Ein Yabrud, Taybeh-Carmelo, and Deir Jarir villages.
Over the past days, the IOF established a metal detector gate on the main street of Al-Funduq village in eastern Qalqilya.
Realities on the ground clearly reveal the Israeli authorities’ intent to fragment the West Bank and turn it into isolated cantons, preventing the natural Palestinian geographical expansion and obstructing movement between Palestinian cities and villages. This would inflict consequences and impacts on economic and social rights, particularly in the fields of health, education, and work. Additionally, the IOF’s actions indicate that they use checkpoints and metal detector gates as a form of collective punishment against Palestinians, while also restricting their access to agricultural lands, Area C, and areas near settlements. This not only facilitates settler attacks on these areas but also allows their seizure as part of Israel’s annexation policies.
In light of the above, PCHR wans of the disastrous consequences of Israeli restrictions in the West Bank and calls on the international community to compel Israel, the occupying power, to immediately remove the illegal checkpoints. These checkpoints and restrictions imposed on Palestinians’ movement constitute a form of collective punishment under international humanitarian law. At these checkpoints, IOF commit serious violations of fundamental rights; thus, these checkpoints must be removed immediately to ensure freedom of movement guaranteed by Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
PCHR also calls on the international community and UN agencies to open investigations into Israel’s actions at checkpoints, amounting to apartheid that is prohibited under international law.