Occupation besieges 15 villages northwest of Jerusalem, isolating them from their Palestinian surroundings

Fifteen Palestinian villages northwest of occupied Jerusalem face an ongoing Israeli siege aimed at isolating them from their Palestinian surroundings through the separation wall, military checkpoints, land confiscation, and settlement expansion, threatening Jerusalem's geographical extension toward the West Bank.

Fifteen Palestinian villages northwest of occupied Jerusalem face a continuous siege and Israeli measures aimed at isolating them from their Palestinian surroundings amid settlement expansion, land confiscation, and restrictions on movement. Field data indicates these villages live under escalating measures including the apartheid wall, military checkpoints, road closures, along with urban restrictions and settlement expansion. The villages northwest of Jerusalem, including Badu, Qatanna, Beit Surik, Beit Iksa, An-Nabi Samwil, Al-Jib, and Bir Nabala, hold geographical importance as an extension of occupied Jerusalem and a link between it and the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate. The separation wall and checkpoints contribute to cutting geographical continuity between Palestinian communities and enhancing Jerusalem's isolation from its surroundings. These measures are accompanied by building and urban expansion restrictions, demolition of Palestinian structures, with large areas classified as Area C. Settlement expansion and settler attacks further exacerbate pressures on the villages. The isolation measures impact economic conditions, as agricultural land faces confiscation risk or becomes isolated behind the wall. In some areas, farmers' access to their land requires Israeli permits. Palestinian and human rights bodies warn that continued isolation of these villages portends further fragmentation of Palestinian geography.

Occupation besieges 15 villages northwest of Jerusalem, isolating them from their Palestinian surroundings