Since the eruption of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, the landscape of the occupied West Bank has been transformed by the installation of nearly 1,000 new barriers, according to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, a Palestinian Authority body. These gates, walls, and concrete blocks now dot cities, towns, and rural roads, creating a patchwork of restrictions that have dramatically altered daily life for Palestinians. The sheer scale of these new obstructions is, by the account of many residents, unprecedented in the territory’s history.
For decades, Israel has maintained a system of movement and access controls in the West Bank, first imposed after its capture of the territory in the 1967 Mideast war. Yet, as reported by the Associated Press and other outlets, the intensity and density of the new barriers since the Gaza conflict began have reached levels unseen before. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission puts the figure at 916 gates, barriers, and walls added since October 2023, a number that underscores the significant ratcheting up of restrictions in the region.
Israeli officials, for their part, maintain that these measures are not intended to suffocate civilian life but to address what they describe as a “complex security reality.” Speaking on condition of anonymity, a military official told The Times of Israel that, “accordingly, there are dynamic checkpoints and ongoing efforts to monitor movement in various areas.” The official argued that militants “embed themselves within the population,” creating an environment where monitoring and management of movement become necessary for security.
The Israeli military has publicly stated that the gates are designed “to manage and monitor,” not to restrict people’s lives. Yet, the lived experience of many Palestinians tells a different story. Metal gates now stand at the entrances of many villages and towns, as well as on roads linking major cities. Sometimes, Israeli soldiers are stationed at these checkpoints, but even when unmanned, the barriers can be just as obstructive.
Palestinians describe erratic and unpredictable opening hours for these gates. Some remain closed for days at a time, forcing residents to sleep at the homes of friends or relatives, or to attempt risky detours on foot around the obstacles. According to The Times of Israel, concrete blocks have also been placed along sidewalks—ostensibly to prevent car-ramming attacks, which have periodically targeted Israeli soldiers and civilians. For the roughly 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank, these obstructions have turned what were once simple journeys into logistical nightmares. A trip that used to take 20 minutes can now stretch to over an hour, as people are forced to navigate lengthy detours around impassable gates.
The United Nations has taken note of the situation as well. In the first two weeks of September 2025 alone, the UN documented the installation of 18 new gates in the West Bank. The organization reported that these gates and other obstacles—such as earth mounds and concrete blocks—restrict Palestinians’ freedom of movement and their access to essential services like healthcare and education.
The impact on daily life is profound. Ezzedine Al-Sayouri, a resident of Deir Dibwan village, told AP, “Under the current circumstances, everything has been cut off. Everything has stopped.” The gates have prevented people from coming to his gym, and he is now considering closing his business and leaving the country altogether. In the village of Aboud, residents report that entry gates are closed between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. each day, preventing students from attending university and workers from reaching their jobs. Mohammad Shalatweh, a taxi driver, described the situation as part of the “occupation’s strategy to destabilize the people’s sense of security.”
Business owners and parents alike have voiced their frustrations and fears. Eyad Jameel, who runs a restaurant in Sinjil, worries every time his son travels to the main city of Ramallah. “They don’t always open them, they just close them and trap everyone,” he explained to reporters. Some residents have observed that certain gates are now equipped with cameras, adding a layer of surveillance to the already oppressive physical barriers.
The Israeli military’s rationale for these measures centers on the need to “root out militancy” in the West Bank, a region where, according to Israeli officials, militants often operate within civilian populations. The frequency of military raids in the West Bank has increased since the start of the Gaza conflict, with reports from AP and The Times of Israel indicating that Palestinians have been killed or detained in these operations. The military insists that the dynamic and shifting nature of the checkpoints is a direct response to the evolving security situation.
However, for many Palestinians, the consequences of the barriers extend far beyond questions of security. The restrictions have led to missed medical appointments, lost workdays, and interrupted schooling. The psychological toll is also significant, with many feeling trapped and uncertain about their ability to move freely or maintain their livelihoods. The barriers, some argue, have become a tool not only of security but also of control, shaping the very fabric of daily existence in the West Bank.
The debate over the necessity and proportionality of these measures is as heated as ever. Israeli officials emphasize the persistent threat of violence and argue that the barriers are a regrettable but essential means of protection. On the other side, Palestinian residents and officials point to the daily hardships and the sense of collective punishment imposed on an entire population. International observers, including the United Nations, have expressed concern that the restrictions contravene basic rights to freedom of movement and access to essential services.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground continues to evolve. As of late September 2025, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission’s tally of 916 new barriers remains a stark indicator of the ongoing tensions and the formidable challenges facing Palestinians in the West Bank. The region’s roads, once open and direct, are now a maze of gates, walls, and checkpoints—each one a reminder of the conflict’s enduring impact on ordinary lives.
As the war in Gaza grinds on, and with no clear end in sight, the people of the West Bank must navigate not only the physical barriers that impede their movement but also the broader uncertainties that define their future. For many, the hope is simply for a return to normalcy—a time when a short drive to work or school doesn’t require an hour-long detour, a time when the gates are open, and the path ahead is clear.
