Ramallah: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has expressed concern over the Israeli occupation authorities' recent actions in the West Bank. The Ministry highlighted the installation of additional iron gates at key entrances to towns, villages, and camps, including a new gate at the entrance of the town of Al-Eizariya.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, this development has increased the number of gates fragmenting the West Bank to nearly 1,000. The Ministry argues that these gates violate the territorial unity of the occupied territories and infringe upon the geographic unity of the State of Palestine. The gates also restrict citizens' rights to movement and access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
In its statement, the Ministry described the checkpoints, iron gates, and military towers as extensions of colonialism and random outposts. These infrastructures contribute to the division of the West Bank into isolated, non-contiguous areas, effectively turning Palestinian communities into isolated enclaves. Entry and exit are controlled and require permission from the occupation authorities.
The Ministry cautioned the international community about the implications of these gates, viewing them as a step towards further colonial settlement control over the West Bank. It characterized these actions as part of a gradual annexation strategy, in violation of international law and UN resolutions.
Furthermore, the Ministry perceives these measures as an official Israeli response counter to the global consensus advocating for an end to occupation-related issues and supporting a two-state solution. It called for immediate international intervention to dismantle these gates, halt illegal unilateral actions, and provide protection for Palestinians.
