Israeli restrictions expand in West Bank and at Rafah Crossing

Israeli forces have implemented various restrictions and closures across the West Bank and at the Rafah Crossing. In the West Bank, military checkpoints and roadblocks have been established near Ramallah and Salfit, causing significant traffic congestion. The town of Madama, south of Nablus, has remained under siege for ten consecutive days, with all four entrances blocked by earth mounds. Local officials report that the siege has led to a shortage of food and medicine for approximately 2,500 residents, noting an instance where an individual suffering a heart attack had to be transported via mountainous terrain because ambulances could not reach the town.

Simultaneously, the Rafah Crossing connecting the Gaza Strip to Egypt has been closed, reportedly due to a technical fault on the Egyptian side. This closure resulted in the return of 65 travelers, most of whom were patients scheduled for medical treatment, to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. The crossing has faced intermittent closures since early October following the arrest of a Palestinian traveler. Data indicates that while thousands have moved through the crossing since its reopening earlier in the year, the total number of operational days has been limited, complicating the movement of medical patients and their companions.