How Israeli restrictions on Palestinians’ movement break up the West Bank

What Happened

The Israeli military has maintained and expanded a system of movement restrictions across the West Bank, including stationary and mobile checkpoints, earthen embankments, and steel gates. These measures, which have intensified following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, regulate Palestinian access to occupied East Jerusalem, Israel, and the Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan. The Israeli military has also restricted Palestinian labor access to Israel, reducing the number of permitted workers from approximately 193,000 before October 2023 to an estimated 44,000, citing security concerns.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The fragmentation of the West Bank through movement restrictions has severely disrupted the Palestinian economy, which relies on trade with Israel for approximately 67 percent of its GDP. The inability of workers to reach jobs and the obstruction of goods at checkpoints have contributed to rising poverty rates and the degradation of essential services, including healthcare and education, for the estimated 3.3 million Palestinians in the West Bank.

Watch For

Monitor potential shifts in Israeli military policy regarding the issuance of work permits for Palestinian laborers and any further changes to the operational status of the Allenby Bridge crossing, which remains a critical bottleneck for Palestinian trade and travel.