JERUSALEM, May 30, 2025 (WAFA) — The Israeli occupation’s ban on sanitation trucks crossing the Qalandia military checkpoint has led to a significant accumulation of garbage in the streets and neighborhoods of Kafr Aqab town, north of occupied Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate stated that "the garbage buildup in the streets of Kafr Aqab reflects a severe crisis the town has been facing for weeks due to the occupation’s prevention of sanitation trucks from crossing Qalandia checkpoint, resulting in a 150% increase in accumulated waste, causing major environmental pollution and serious health hazards."

A local source explained that "the crisis stems from Israeli authorities preventing waste collection trucks from passing through Qalandia military checkpoint, which blocks their access to the main landfill site located just meters beyond the checkpoint."

The source added that "due to this restriction, sanitation trucks are forced to take an alternative, longer route through Jaba military checkpoint, then endure hours of waiting at Hazma checkpoint before reaching the landfill. This alternative route causes daily delays and disrupts the trash collection schedule, exacerbating the situation continuously."

M.N