Aref Jaber, a 51-year-old man, navigates his neighborhood in Hebron by climbing roofs and walls, forced to take alternative routes through his community due to the closure of Checkpoint 160, the sole access point for 140 families in his area. Each closure is unpredictable—caused by anything from a soldier’s whim to technical failures. Jaber recounts how these disruptions to daily life have become a frequent reality, occurring at least twice a week for the last three years.
The situation in his neighborhood mirrors a broader crisis across the occupied West Bank. With deadly violence from Israeli settlers and a military expansion since 2023, Palestinian communities have seen their territories fragmented further. Over 900 checkpoints, roadblocks, and other forms of barriers have segmented the West Bank’s 3.5 million Palestinians, severely impacting their ability to access jobs, healthcare, and education.
Data reveals that commuting times have drastically increased for many. For instance, a trip from Ramallah to Al-Eizariya has lengthened from a straightforward 27 kilometers and 48 minutes to a circuitous route requiring 45 kilometers and nearly double the time. A common job commute now costs an average of 77 hours a year due to checkpoint delays.
As part of a collaborative investigation, significant insight was gleaned from analyzing over 2.6 billion GPS pings and thousands of Telegram messages shared among Palestinians about checkpoint status. This effort mapped more than 800 barriers, illustrating the extent of movement restrictions and their impact on daily life.
Poor access has also severely hindered education. Amal, a mother in Al-Janiya, shared experiences of her daughters’ challenging commutes to university due to checkpoint delays, with students losing days each academic year. Over 30% of respondents attributed barriers to their inability to complete their education.
Khalil Tufakji, a cartographer, notes that these checkpoints, which date back to British colonial rule, have consolidated power, reducing Palestinian movement options over decades. Recent data indicates an alarming rise in movement obstacles, higher than in previous years, leading to tragic consequences; the Palestine Red Crescent reported multiple access denials that resulted in complications and even deaths due to delays in medical assistance.
Emphasizing the existential aspect of these barriers, Yassin, an anesthesiologist, described her grueling commute disrupted by checkpoints, which ultimately forced her to resign to care for her family. Many Palestinians face similar struggles, with some resorting to overnight stays at workplaces due to unreachable home.
Reem Yassin, a mother and doctor, experienced significant delays at checkpoints, which hindered her basic mobility and family life. She eventually chose to relocate closer to her workplace, but the climate of unpredictability remains ever-present. Her road protocol while traveling—a series of scripted responses to soldiers—illustrates the systemic humiliation felt by many.
Checkpoints have not only fractured families but reshaped lives. The increasing tension and unpredictability make daily routines a struggle, with families often forced to live apart rather than face unbearable waiting times at military checkpoints.
Witnessing sporadic moments of freedom—when a checkpoint unexpectedly opens—offers a fleeting glimpse of possibility for Palestinians. The anguish caused by this fractured existence fosters a longing for a day when unrestricted movement might return, allowing families to reconnect and communities to heal.
Data indicates that this growing intensity of closures has locked entire generations into isolated lifestyles, making the prospect of a unified Palestine feel ever more distant. The overwhelming feeling among the populace is one of resignation to a reality where moving freely is a distant hope rather than an achievable norm.
