Checkpoints and Restrictions on the Freedom of Movement:
Enormity of Humiliation!

By: Jerusalem Center for Women

Israel’s occupation suffocates Palestinian society, displaces Palestinians internally, and deprives us of our human rights. Checkpoints are one of the most significant, daily mechanisms of military occupation; they ensure that Palestinians never forget the strength of Israel’s control. Israel maintains intensive control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip through more than 160 military checkpoints that chop up the roads between the Palestinian cities and divide Palestinians from themselves.

It has become a daily—though not normal—routine for Palestinians to stop at these checkpoints several times in the course of a day. At each crossing, they face different sorts of inhuman treatment: restriction of movement, harassment, threats, and violence. Large numbers of Palestinians heading to work, to visit family, or seeking medical assistance have to wait for long periods—sometimes many hours—before they are allowed to pass.

The harm caused by restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement is irreparable. These restrictions affect nearly all aspects of daily life, the Palestinian economy, education and health. Restrictions on freedom of movement constitute a grave breech of human rights. Moreover, they contravene international law governing collective punishment, specifically, as stated in article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, “no protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed” and that “collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”

The extreme harm of the policy of restricted mobility is evident when passage is denied or delayed to those in obvious need of medical treatment. Prohibiting sick or wounded persons from getting medical attention is a decisive violation of international law; according to Articles 16 and 17 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, occupiers must ensure free access to medical assistance for the sick, elderly, pregnant women, and children. One example of such a violation is the case of 25-year old Niveen Khalil from Qufur Aqab (north of Jerusalem). Last week she was on her way to Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Hospital when she found herself in labour at the famous Qalandia checkpoint that separates Jerusalem and Ramallah. Her passage was refused by the Israeli military authorities, so she waved down a passing car for help and almost immediately gave birth to a baby boy. Coincidentally, an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Cross passed by carrying another critical case, and they summoned another ambulance that arrived moments later. Niveen and her baby arrived at the hospital in miserable condition, but tragedy was averted. In another case, Kinda Al-Sharbaty, a young girl from Shu’fat Refugee Camp died from severe stomach infection after being delayed at the checkpoint at the entrance to the Camp.

Examples of harassment and brute violations at checkpoints are too numerous to recount, but the previous two examples exemplify the usual treatment of women at checkpoints whether they are sick, pregnant, or even healthy but seeking their basic right to freely pass by.

Checkpoints, closures and curfews are words that fail to capture the full enormity of rudeness, humiliation and brutality that thousands of Palestinians face daily. Mr. John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Commission, reported, “There is a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza. It is not the result of a natural disaster. Instead, it is a crisis imposed by a powerful state on its neighbor.”

Jerusalem Center for Women calls on friends and allies in the international community to take an action against this daily brute violence that we face. Continued violations of international law—including International Humanitarian Law—undermine any attempts towards peace in the region and any chance for a viable sovereign Palestinian state.