Hizma, Qalandiya
Closure is a tricky business, or – the regional commander couldn’t care less
“During closure passage will be allowed only humanitarian cases, medical and outstanding, pending confirmation by COGAT – the Coordinating Officer of Government Actions in the Territories”. This was publicized by COGAT General Yoav Mordechai.
Meaning: as Jews celebrate their holidays, Palestinians’ movement is even more extensively restricted than it is all year round, and only outstanding cases are allowed into Israel.
The general did not specify what kind of outstanding cases he meant, but did state that he is the one who decides who they are.
I would like to tell the general about one incident and three victims.
The victims are three Palestinian cancer patients treated at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem (due to Israel’s policy there is not a single radiation-treatment facility in all of Palestine), three of many who arrive at the checkpoint every morning and continue from there to their treatment destination.
Cancer patients are indeed issued passage permits, but in the Occupation as in occupation, the permit is not issued for the entire duration of the treatment course but for one month only, and needs to be re-issued when is no longer in force.
And so, on the Eve of the Second Passover Holiday, the permits of three such patients ran out and on that day the offices were closed, so the three did not get through and were not treated.
Among them was a 70-year old man who was summoned for a last treatment session. “It is important to complete the treatment course as prescribed” said one who knows.
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The villagers of Hizma can now travel in their vehicle into the village and inside it. The army has moved the concrete barriers. Moved, but did not remove them. They remained as a warning signal, alongside a yellow metal gate with two ‘wings’. Suspended freedom of movement.
Nor did the army, police and Border Police leave the villagers alone. They continue their daily routine of patrols, barriers and harassment.
Hizma
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Hizma
A checkpoint at the north-eastern entrance to the Jerusalem area which was annexed in 1967, at Pisgat Zeev. The passage is allowed to bearers of blue IDs only. Open 24 hours a day.
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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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