Restrictions on Palestinian movement in West Bank allegedly at levels not seen in decades

Restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank have reached levels not seen since the Second Intifada, with 925 movement obstacles recorded by OCHA as of March 2026, a 43% increase over the two-decade average. The IDF has installed hundreds of new gates since October 7, 2023, and tightened restrictions at existing checkpoints, citing security needs. Palestinians report severe impacts on daily life, including lengthy delays at checkpoints and blocked access to jobs, schools, and medical care. Critics say the army lacks an overarching strategy and does not maintain a complete record of closures.

Restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank have intensified dramatically since October 7, 2023, reaching levels not seen since the Second Intifada over 20 years ago, according to the UN. As of March 2026, OCHA recorded 925 movement obstacles across the West Bank — a 43% increase over the average of 647 recorded annually during the previous two decades. The IDF has installed hundreds of new gates at entrances to Palestinian communities, allowing roads to be sealed off at short notice. Existing checkpoints have also seen tightened restrictions, with reduced operating hours and increased inspections. Palestinians describe severe hardships: a priest from Taybeh reports that a journey that once took 15 minutes now takes hours, and a woman gave birth at a checkpoint after being denied passage. The IDF says decisions are based on operational assessments and security considerations, but critics argue the military lacks an overarching strategy and does not maintain a complete record of closures. An attorney petitioning the High Court for a full accounting stated that the IDF does not even aspire to know how many checkpoints exist. The article relies heavily on Palestinian and NGO sources, with limited Israeli official response.