RAMALLAH, August 20, 2026 (WAFA) - Israeli occupation forces on Thursday evening blocked the departure of Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam from Sinjil town following her participation in a slain teen’s funeral procession, according to local sources.

They reported that the occupation forces stopped Ghannam’s vehicle at the entrance to the town, northeast of Ramallah, and prevented her from leaving, before seizing the vehicle’s keys and arbitrarily detaining. She was later allowed to pass.

Ghannam made her way to the town to attend the funeral of 17-year-old Palestinian Salim Sami Salim Fuqaha, whose body was released today by the occupation authorities after withholding it since he was killed in March.

Fuqaha was killed on March 17, 2026, when the occupation forces opened fire on him on the outskirts of Sinjil. Another boy who was accompanying him was injured.

The sources described blocking Ghannam’s departure as part of the occupation’s policy of restricting Palestinians’ freedom of movement and using military checkpoints and arbitrary measures as a means of intimidation and coercion.

K.F.