Palestinians in the West Bank town of Sinjil are living under what they describe as a “prison-like siege” after Israeli forces fenced off nearly all routes in and out of the town, citing settler safety. The move is part of a broader expansion of Israeli restrictions in the occupied territory.

A Town Surrounded by Barriers

On July 4, residents of Sinjil, a town of 8,000 north of Ramallah, woke to find a five-meter-high metal fence cutting through their farmland. All but one access point has been sealed off with gates and roadblocks guarded by Israeli soldiers. “Sinjil is now a big prison,” said Mousa Shabaneh, a local father of seven. “They cut off our livelihood.”

His nursery business was destroyed as the fence now slices through the property. “All the trees I had were burned and lost,” he added.

Israel Cites Security; Palestinians Denounce Collective Punishment

The Israeli military said the fencing protects the nearby Ramallah–Nablus highway from “terror incidents” and stone-throwing, stating it still allows “free access” via the one remaining gate. But residents say the barriers have disrupted daily life and obstructed access to 2,000 acres of privately owned land.

“This is a policy meant to intimidate and break the will of the Palestinian people,” said Bahaa Foqaa, Sinjil’s deputy mayor.

Israeli settler leader Israel Gantz defended the move, calling it a response to Palestinian violence: “Lifting restrictions would encourage the mass murder of Jews,” he said.

Expanding West Bank Crackdown

Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, Israel has tightened its grip on the West Bank. The military has erected new checkpoints, blocked roads with boulders, and installed locked steel gates in Palestinian towns.

In Sinjil and elsewhere, travel times have soared. Sana Alwan, a fitness instructor, said what was once a short drive to Ramallah now takes up to three hours. “Half our life is on the roads,” she said.

The Palestinian Authority believes the disruption is deliberate, intended to stifle the economy and daily life. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa warned it could drive more youth toward militancy.

International Law and Settlement Tensions

About 700,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank, land captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The international community views the settlements as a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Israel disputes this, citing historic and religious ties.

Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right government includes ministers who openly advocate for full annexation of the West Bank, abandoning even the appearance of a future Palestinian state.