RAMALLAH, January 28, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday closed two major roads connecting a cluster of Palestinian towns and villages and the city of Ramallah, said a municipal source.
WAFA reported in head of Ras Karkar Municipal Council, Bahjat Samhan, as saying that Israeli forces, without prior notice, have closed down Road 463 that connects 13 towns and villages with the city of Ramallah.
Road 463 is a major road that connects a cluster of Palestinian villages, including Ras Karkar, Al-Janiya, Kharbatha Bani Harith, Deir ‘Ammar, Beitillu, Deir Qaddis, Ni‘lin, Qibya, Shuqba, Shabtin and Rantis with Ramallah.
Samhan added that the road closure severely restricted the movement of villagers, preventing them from reaching their universities, colleges and businesses in Ramallah.
This came as forces continued to close down a main road leading from Ramallah to seven Ramallah villages and towns with cement blocks for the third consecutive day, restricting the free movement of at least 25,000 Palestinians.
Road 443 connects the West Bank hub of Ramallah with Beit Sira, Beit Liqya, Kharbatha al-Misbah, Beit ‘Ur at-Tahta, Beit ‘Ur al-Fuqa, Saffa and at-Tira.
The road and the Ramallah village of Beit ‘Ur at-Tahta were sealed after a villager and a Palestinian from the Qalandiya refugee camp carried out a stabbing attack that left a 24-year-old Israeli settler woman dead and another injured in Beit Horon settlement.
As a result of the road closures, villagers were forced to take long alternative detours through neighboring villages to reach Ramallah city.
The ban came as part of several measures to be approved by Israeli cabinet against Palestinians across Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories since violence flared up in October 1.
Such measures have included road closures, restricting movement in and out of Palestinian villages and towns and carrying out detention raids.
The road closure came as part of measures approved by the Israeli cabinet to clamp down on Palestinians suspected of perpetrating stabbing attacks or attempts, including the demolition of the family house of the suspected assailant and imposing movement restrictions on his hometown.
Israel has been criticized for its excessive use of lethal force and “extrajudicial killings” when Palestinian alleged attackers no longer posed an immediate threat.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that circumstances surrounding such killings over the past months remain disputed.
K.F/M.H
