An Israeli soldier takes part in a raid in Nablus, West Bank, June 10, 2025 (Photo by Reuters)
Ramallah, June 16 (RHC)-- Israel has placed the occupied West Bank under a complete lockdown, as the regime's military intensifies its military offensive across the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Israeli siege continued for a third day on Sunday, as the Israeli military sealed the entrances of cities and villages with iron gates and concrete barriers. In addition to closing up cities and villages, the Israeli forces were severely restricting the movement of Palestinians by setting up checkpoints.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa said the Israeli military had increased its presence in the West Bank cities like el-Bireh and Ramallah. Strict checkpoints are also impeding movement in Nablus, al-Khalil, Qalqilya, and the Jordan Valley, where the checkpoints have disrupted the work of farmers and the transport of their produce.
“The ongoing closures have paralyzed daily life across the West Bank, severely limiting mobility, restricting access to essential services, and impacting economic activity,” Wafa, quoting sources, reported.
Palestinian residents say attempts to approach the checkpoints have been met with live fire from Israeli soldiers in some places, while in others, stun grenades and tear gas were deployed.
There have been numerous reports of injuries over the past few hours. In the Tulkarem refugee camp, for example, a 16-year-old was reportedly shot in the leg by Israeli forces.
The regime forces also conducted night raids in the West Bank, arresting at least 15 people.
Ambulances are struggling to reach the wounded as their movement is also being impeded. “Even when we are granted Israeli military permission to move, we are detained at checkpoints for three to four hours before being allowed through,” said Fayez Abdel Jabbar, an ambulance driver. “This [Saturday] morning, one woman stayed three hours at one checkpoint. The only way we can function now is by transferring patients from one ambulance to another at these checkpoints.”
Even before the recent Israeli offensive, pregnant Palestinian women reported that checkpoints could be a matter of “life and death.” Meanwhile, in several areas across the West Bank, Israeli soldiers have also expelled dozens of families from their homes and turned them into military positions.
Palestinians in the West Bank say the Israeli actions are aimed at annexing their lands and expanding illegal settlements.
Since January this year, there have been ongoing Israeli offensives in three refugee camps in the Jenin and Tulkarem areas of the West Bank. Israeli forces have killed about 1,000 Palestinians, more than 200 of them minors, since the war on Gaza started on October 7, 2023.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and REUTERS ]
