ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Residents of the Palestinian town of Sinjil in the Israeli-occupied West Bank say their community has been turned into a “big prison” after the Israeli military erected a five-metre-high metal fence around the area, leaving just one monitored entry and exit point.
The Israeli military states the fencing was built to protect the nearby Ramallah-Nablus highway from what it described as “recurring terror incidents” and disruptions caused by stone-throwing. However, residents and local officials say the move has severely restricted access to agricultural lands and daily activities.
One Way In, No Way Out?
The newly installed barriers have effectively enclosed *around 8,000 residents* within approximately *10 acres, cutting them off from nearly **2,000 acres* of farmland they privately own, according to Sinjil Deputy Mayor Bahaa Foqaa. The once-open access roads are now blocked with steel gates and military roadblocks, forcing locals to travel through narrow internal streets to reach the only permitted exit.
“Sinjil is now a big prison,” said *Mousa Shabaneh*, a 52-year-old father of seven. “Of course, we’re now forbidden from going to the nursery. All the trees I had were burned and lost. In the end, they cut off our livelihood.”
Increased Checkpoints and Delays
The enclosure of Sinjil is part of a broader surge in restrictions across the West Bank following the outbreak of war in Gaza in late 2023. The Israeli military has set up more checkpoints—both permanent and so-called “flying checkpoints” that appear without warning—while placing earth mounds and boulders to block major routes.
*Sana Alwan*, a personal trainer living in Sinjil, said travel to Ramallah, once a short drive, can now take up to three hours. “Half of our life is on the roads,” she said, adding that she has lost clients due to the unpredictability of travel times.
Military Justification and Settler Security
In a statement, the *Israeli military* said the fence was constructed “to prevent stone-throwing at a main route and repeated disturbances of public order, thereby safeguarding the security of civilians in the region.” Despite the physical barriers, the military claims residents have “free access” via the single remaining entry point.
*Israel Gantz*, head of the Binyamin Regional Council overseeing 47 Israeli settlements in the area, defended the measure: “A carte blanche lifting of the restrictions on Arab Palestinians would encourage the mass murder of Jews,” he told Reuters.
Israel maintains that such security infrastructure is necessary to protect its citizens, especially Jewish settlers living in the West Bank—territory it captured during the 1967 war. Over *700,000 Israeli settlers* currently reside there. Most of the international community considers these settlements a violation of international law; Israel disputes this, citing historical and religious claims.
Impact on Daily Life and Economy
Beyond security, the consequences for daily life are mounting. Residents face difficulties reaching workplaces, schools, and healthcare facilities. The economic impact is especially harsh, with farmers and nursery owners unable to access their lands.
*Mohammad Jammous*, a resident of Ramallah originally from Jericho, said travel times to visit his family have more than doubled. “I used to see them weekly. Now I’m lucky if I make it once a month.”
The *Palestinian Authority* has expressed concern that these measures are designed to pressure the local population. “They are doing everything they can to make life extremely difficult for our people,” Palestinian Prime Minister *Mohammad Mustafa* said last month.
Ongoing Tensions and Political Ramifications
The fencing of Sinjil reflects a broader shift in Israeli policy, especially under its current far-right government, where some senior officials openly advocate annexing the entire West Bank.
While Sinjil has not seen the kind of destruction experienced in Gaza, residents say the restrictions have placed them under a form of siege, limiting movement, eroding livelihoods, and deepening fears of long-term isolation.
As the military presence intensifies and infrastructure changes solidify, towns like Sinjil may be facing a future marked more by walls and wire than freedom of movement.
