The Human Cost of Checkpoints and Conflict in the West Bank

Introduction: The Ripple Effects of War and Ceasefire

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19, 2024, was supposed to bring a measure of calm after months of intense conflict. Instead, it has ushered in a new wave of challenges for Palestinians living in the West Bank. Abdullah Fauzi, a banker from Nablus, exemplifies the struggles faced by many. His commute, once a manageable hour, now stretches to four hours or more due to Israel’s tightened security measures. These measures, including the establishment of new checkpoints, have turned routine travel into a grueling ordeal, with Palestinian residents forced to navigate a labyrinth of roadblocks, inspections, and delays. For Fauzi and countless others, the truce has not brought peace but instead a suffocating grip on daily life.

A Ceasefire that Brought More Violence and Restrictions

The period following the ceasefire has been marked by heightened tensions and increased Israeli military activity in the West Bank. Radical Israeli settlers, angered by the truce and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages, have rampaged through towns, targeting cars and homes. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has intensified its crackdown on Palestinian militants, imposing stringent restrictions that have transformed the West Bank into a fragmented and tightly controlled territory. Checkpoints have multiplied, slicing the region into isolated pockets, while crossings that were once open 24/7 now close during peak hours, disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

The Israeli government defends these measures as necessary to prevent Hamas from opening a new front in the West Bank. However, many analysts argue that the crackdown serves a broader political agenda. Experts like Tahani Mustafa of the International Crisis Group suggest that Israel is using the ceasefire as an opportunity to expand settlements and consolidate control over the West Bank. “It’s a free hand for Israel to pursue what it has wanted to do for a long time,” Mustafa said. The military’s actions, including the closure of roads and the diversion of Palestinian traffic through congested checkpoints, reflect a strategy of suffocating Palestinian life under the guise of security.

The Disruption of Daily Life and Livelihoods

The new restrictions have turned even the simplest tasks into battles of endurance. Palestinians like Ahmed Jibril, a manager for the Palestinian Red Crescent, find themselves trapped in a system that treats ambulances and emergency responders as ordinary vehicles. “We’re treated like any other private car,” Jibril said, describing how Israeli soldiers often force ambulances to wait for inspection even during emergencies. In one tragic incident, a 46-year-old woman from Hebron died of a heart attack while waiting to cross a checkpoint. Her death underscores the human cost of a system that prioritizes security over humanitarian needs.

The Israeli military acknowledges the delays caused by its checkpoints but justifies them as essential for preventing militant activity. However, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a surge in “suffocating restrictions” that are tearing communities apart and paralyzing daily life. By November 2023, Israel had established 793 checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank, a dramatic increase from pre-war numbers. These barriers have become a constant source of frustration, as they disrupt everything from medical care to trade and employment.

The Economic Toll of Checkpoints and Restrictions

The economic impact of Israel’s measures is equally devastating. Palestinian truckers carrying perishable goods and construction materials face lengthy inspections that often result in spoilage and damage. The delays not only raise prices but also gouge the already fragile Palestinian economy, which contracted by 28% in 2023. Palestinian Economy Minister Mohammad Alamour described the checkpoints as tools of economic strangulation, designed to pressure both the Palestinian people and their government. “These barriers do everything except their stated purpose of providing security,” Alamour said. “They make people want to leave their country.”

Palesti