Israel is not new to besieging Palestinian cities, villages, and camps. Israel has grown very accustomed to tightening the screws on the Palestinians and ruining their lives.
Shuafat camp has always been under Israeli aggression. It is one of the most critical camps of Jerusalem, whose residents are subjected to continuous violations by the Israeli occupation forces.
The armed clash coincided with Israel’s killing of four Palestinians during a military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, in addition to violent attacks against Palestinians commemorating the Mawlid (Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday)
For the fourth day in a row, Israeli occupation authorities impose a blockade on thousands of Palestinians in Shuafat camp following an armed clash, in which two Israeli soldiers were reported killed.
Because Israel always adopts the collective punishment measure, movement in the whole camp was almost paralyzed, as Israel impeded the movement of Palestinians, including students and patients.
Earlier yesterday, the medical crews were forced to evacuate a critical patient on foot, as Israel prevented ambulances from entering and leaving the camp.
Shuafat Military Checkpoint
Shuafat Checkpoint was erected in 2002 for the first time. In 2009, the Israeli occupation authorities turned it into a “crossing” isolating the Jerusalem areas from the West Bank.
For Palestinians, the Shuafat checkpoint is a station for humiliation, danger, or even murder. The Israeli occupation forces inspect the identity cards of every Palestinian who crosses through the checkpoint.
Whenever Israel closes the Checkpoint, the Palestinians live in a place like a prison as the checkpoint isolates them from the rest of Jerusalem and the apartheid wall separates them from the West Bank.
The checkpoint consists of 3 main lanes, the first for pedestrians through electronic check gates, the second lane for buses that are also subject to strict inspection, and the third for private vehicles.
Several Palestinians were killed over the years while crossing the Shuafat military checkpoint over the years. The checkpoint is considered one out of 7 military checkpoints erected by the Israeli occupation in Jerusalem.
Unforgettable Crimes
On July 2, 2014, the people of Shuafat woke up to a horrible crime committed by Israeli settlers. At the dawn of that unforgettable day, Israeli settlers kidnapped and burned Mohammed Abu Khudeir alive.
Mohammed Abu Khudeir was only 16 years when he was walking to his home in the Shuafat neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem. He was beaten and burned alive by Israeli settlers.
The murder of Abu Khdeir triggered a popular uprising in Jerusalem. Palestinians expressed their depression and anger, organizing massive demonstrations.
Abu Khudeir’s uprising extended across the whole Palestinian lands as confrontations erupted in the occupied West Bank, condemning the crime.
Shuafat is surrounded by a number of Israeli settlements that suffocate the camp and cause a crisis of high population density. Israel uses all means to isolate the camp and paralyze its movement.
It is not new for Israel. Up to two million Palestinians in Gaza Strip have been under an Israeli land, air, and sea blockade since 2006.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=27902
