BETHLEHEM, September 18, 2025 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces installed a metal barrier on Thursday at the entrance of a road connecting the village of Harmala to the town of Tuqu’, southeast of Bethlehem, effectively restricting Palestinian movement in the area.

According to WAFA correspondent, the installation of the gate further limits access for residents who rely on the road for daily transportation, including access to schools, workplaces, and medical services.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission has previously reported that the total number of military checkpoints and metal barriers erected by the Israeli army across the occupied West Bank has now surpassed 900. Since the beginning of this year alone, 18 new metal barriers have been installed.

These barriers and checkpoints are part of a broader Israeli policy that imposes heavy restrictions on Palestinian movement, contributing to economic hardship and undermining basic human rights. Human rights organizations have consistently criticized the use of such infrastructure as a form of collective punishment.

M.N