Bethlehem: Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday set up a gate at the entrance of al-Maniya village, southeast of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to a local source. Zayed Kawazba, head of al-Maniya Village Council, reported that the occupying forces erected a gate at the southeastern entrance of the village, adding to the gates that were installed the previous day.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, on Monday, Israeli soldiers erected two gates at the western and southern entrances of al-Maniya village. This move effectively sealed off all entrances, denying villagers access to Bethlehem. The actions are part of a broader strategy of tightened military measures across the occupied West Bank. This escalation follows the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, implemented on January 19.
The measures, which include military gates, barriers, and concrete blocks, aim to dismember and isolate cities and governorates, thereby restricting movement. The strategy is paralleled by ongoing attacks from Israeli colonists throughout the West Bank. These attacks are intended to intimidate Palestinians and force them off their lands, facilitating the construction of illegal Jewish colonies that further fracture Palestinian communities.
Israel employs a complex system to restrict Palestinian movement within the West Bank. This includes approximately 898 fixed and flying checkpoints and gates, with 18 gates installed since the beginning of 2025 and 146 more following events on October 7, 2023. The infrastructure also encompasses colonist-only roads, over 200 military bases, and various physical obstructions.
These closures and other security measures are designed to entrench Israel's 58-year military occupation of the West Bank, reinforcing its settler colonial project. The enforcement of these measures frequently involves routine and often deadly violence against Palestinians.
