Qalandiya checkpoint - children try to help support the family
- “How many more children in Gaza have to die?” an acquaintance asked.
- “No child anywhere has to die”, I answered.
- “God above sees and will settle the account”, said my interlocutor.
In these harsh times, in a hopeless reality with no livelihood nor horizon, more and more people stick to religion; having no source of authority or security, they turn their heads and hands up and believe that God will save them.
The looks of the brother and sister, and of the stranger who stopped next to them and looked at what they handed him – were gentle.
Working children are a common sight in the occupation regions, and every shekel means another piece of bread or glass of milk for the family children.
The brother and sister protect each other, offering Koran verses to the passersby.
Everyone knows that Koran verses are no goods for sale, so the children do not mention a sum of money, and every person is free to hand them as many small coins as they wish.
The information about the fate of Palestinians incarcerated by Israel is worrisome.
For me, the fate of my friend Abdallah represents the tens of thousands of people who share his fate, and I always head for the area around Qalandiya Checkpoint, and spend time where the Tamimis’ fruit stand is located, learning more about his custody.
This time learned that Abdallah was kidnapped when he stopped for a routine check of his vehicle at Jab’a Checkpoint, that members of his family were with him, that he was taken out of the car, shackled in view of his wife and children, and taken away.
Since then, the last day of January 2024, all the family knows is that for over seven months Abdallah is in the Ofer jail, but they have no idea why and for how long.
It is of utmost importance to read the B’Tselem report:
Location Description
Qalandiya Checkpoint / Atarot Pass (Jerusalem)
See all reports for this place-
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 FleishmanMay-13-2025Qalandiya: Back-to-back procedure for transferring patients
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