Jerusalem: Israeli occupation forces have installed a new iron gate at the main entrance to the town of Anata, northeast of Jerusalem. This move effectively closes the checkpoint in both directions and is part of a broader strategy to restrict the movement and freedom of Palestinian residents in the area.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the gate adds to another that was erected years ago at the southern entrance of Anata. The Jerusalem Governorate has expressed deep concern over the escalating measures, which it claims are intended to suffocate and isolate Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings. These actions include the installation of new iron gates, increased military checkpoints, and accelerated colonial expansion and annexation plans.
The statement from the Jerusalem Governorate indicates that these developments coincide with Israel's exploitation of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and tensions with Iran. During this period, the Israeli government is reportedly pushing forward with annexation plans, expanding the boundaries of the Jerusalem municipality, increasing the number of settlers, and constructing new colonial settlements while global attention is diverted.
Currently, Jerusalem is surrounded by 85 barriers, including earth mounds, fixed and mobile iron gates, and the expansive separation wall, effectively transforming the city into a closed prison where apartheid is enforced. The statement asserts that these measures are part of a larger plan for full control over the city and its religious sites, as part of an undeclared annexation project being implemented amidst international distraction.
The statement further emphasized that the silence of the international community is perceived as tacit approval for the occupation to advance its colonial and Judaization efforts. It called for urgent media and popular solidarity with Jerusalem to confront these existential threats.
