Qalandiya
According to Wikipedia: “Since 1969 ‘tear gas’ has been included in the category of ‘chemical weapons’ prohibited for military use by the Geneva Convention, and its use is permitted only for policing to preserve order.”
The truth is, with respect to the phrase “to preserve order,” until tear gas was fired the structured disorder of this location was in fact a kind of order that had been preserved fairly well, and what disrupted the order was the sound of explosions, the shouts of غاز, غاز and the panicky flight of people when the white gas cloud enveloped them, spread and and burned and choked and made their eyes water.
Wikipedia also states:
“Tear gas is any gas or aerosol which causes temporary psychological stress by irritating the eyes or the respiratory system. The gas irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs. It causes crying, sneezing, eye pains, temporary blindness, and hinders breathing.
“Even though it is widely used and is generally considered a safe, non-lethal means of dispersing demonstrations, inhalation is very dangerous (and may even be lethal) for people suffering from respiratory illness (like asthma), and has serious consequences for pregnant women. Evidence also exists of serious lung damage to healthy people, and even death, as a result of inhaling large quantities of the material.”
The photographs were taken at one-second intervals, from the same spot.
Qalandiya Checkpoint / Atarot Pass (Jerusalem)
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Click here to watch a video from Qalandiya checkpoint up to mid 2019 Three kilometers south of Ramallah, in the heart of Palestinian population. Integrates into "Jerusalem Envelope" as part of Wall that separates between northern suburbs that were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967: Kafr Aqab, Semiramis and Qalandiya, and the villages of Ar-Ram and Bir Nabala, also north of Jerusalem, and the city itself. Some residents of Kafr Aqab, Semiramis and Qalandiya have Jerusalem ID cards. A terminal operated by Israel Police has functioned since early 2006. As of August 2006, northbound pedestrians are not checked. Southbound Palestinians must carry Jerusalem IDs; holders of Palestinian Authority IDs cannot pass without special permits. Vehicular traffic from Ramallah to other West Bank areas runs to the north of Qalandiya. In February 2019, the new facility of the checkpoint was inaugurated aiming to make it like a "border crossing". The bars and barbed wire fences were replaced with walls of perforated metal panels. The check is now performed at multiple stations for face recognition and the transfer of an e-card. The rate of passage has improved and its density has generally decreased, but lack of manpower and malfunctions cause periods of stress. The development and paving of the roads has not yet been completed, the traffic of cars and pedestrians is dangerous, and t the entire vicinity of the checkpoint is filthy. In 2020 a huge pedestrian bridge was built over the vehicle crossing with severe mobility restrictions (steep stairs, long and winding route). The pedestrian access from public transport to the checkpoint from the north (Ramallah direction) is unclear, and there have been cases of people, especially people with disabilities, who accidentally reached the vehicle crossing and were shot by the soldiers at the checkpoint. In the summer of 2021, work began on a new, sunken entrance road from Qalandiya that will lead directly to Road 443 towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. At the same time, the runways of the old Atarot airport were demolished and infrastructure was prepared for a large bus terminal. (updated October 2021)
Tamar FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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