Palestinians return to old days under Israeli military restrictions

Palestinians thought the hostility from Israeli military was over when through out the holy month of Ramadan, they were granted free access to some areas that was once a no-go area for them. Now, it is obvious, that the holy month was only a sort of grace.

According to 972mag.com, the end of Ramadan was the end to a short lived freedom for Palestine. 972mag.com reports that: “During the month of Ramadan, Palestinians were more freely able to pass between the West Bank and Jerusalem.” But “Now it’s back to the old rules of military occupation.”

The report explained that: “The final Friday of Ramadan was also the final day in which Israel temporarily “relaxed” its restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank”, noting that: “Throughout the past month, which Muslims mark as the holiest time of the year, Israel allowed women of all ages, men over 40, and children under 12 to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers without special entry permits.”

Reports have confirmed that: “Over 250,000 Palestinians lost a rare chance to cross the Green Line after the Israeli government revoked their entry permits.” We were told that: “The Israeli government revoked entry permits from 250,000 Palestinians last week following an attack three Palestinians against Israeli security forces in Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate, which killed Border Police officer Hadas Malka.”

972mag.com revealed that: “Those permits, which were granted for “family visits” during the month of Ramadan and the three-day holiday of Eid al-Fitr (which begins on Sunday), were meant to be valid throughout the entire month and during the holiday, aside from weekends.” Such is the ongoing hardship that Palestinians are faced with.

It is stated that grace hours are over and so: “The “relaxed” restrictions, as they are termed by the Israeli authorities, have come to an end. Palestinians in the West Bank will now return to the rules of military occupation, which control their movement in the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Until the next Ramadan.”

Correspondent: Olayiwola A. Ridwan