RAMALLAH, Saturday, October 22, 2022 (WAFA) – A delegation from the Palestinian cabinet is expected to visit the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Monday to closely examine the consequences arising from the ongoing Israeli siege on the city.

For nearly two weeks, Nablus and the neighboring villages have been under a tight Israeli military siege, with most of the entrances to the city shut down by earth mounds, heavy concrete barriers, metal bars, or checkpoints.

So far, only two out of more than 10 entrances to the city were left partially open for the city’s nearly 160,000 inhabitants and the neighboring towns and villages, resulting in almost daily delays and traffic jams, with drivers often finding themselves with no choice but to drive on rough terrain in their way in and out of the city.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the Israeli siege of Nablus has stifled the lives of the city’s residents and dealt a hard blow to its economic activity, resulting in an estimated 60% decline in economic activity until last Thursday.

The cabinet delegation to visit Nablus includes Minister of National Economy Khaled al-Ossaili, Minister of Transport Assem Salem, Health Minister Mai Alkaila, Minister of Public Works and Housing Mohammad Ziara, and Minister of Labor Nasri Abu Jeish.

The delegation is expected to hold several meetings with the local leaders and civil society representatives in the governorate to closely listen to their demands after which a report will be submitted to the Council of Ministers in order to provide what is needed to reinforce the resilience of the people of the governorate and meet their urgent needs.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing a visit for diplomats on Wednesday to Nablus to learn about the situation there in light of the suffocating Israeli siege.

M.N./M.K.