The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) are daily harassing Palestinians passing through the al-Masoudia checkpoint erected between Jenin and Nablus in the northern West Bank restricting the locals’ movement.
Palestinian citizens are kept waiting at the checkpoint on a daily basis for long hours despite the very hot weather before being allowed passage or denied.
Local activist Ghassan Daghlas underlined that Palestinian citizens are subjected to all forms of humiliation at the checkpoint.
Along the same line he pointed out that Jewish settlers roaming in the surrounding areas usually attack the passing Palestinian vehicles causing serious injuries in some cases other than material damage.
Local residents found themselves forced to take alternative roads to avoid such attacks Daghlas further said.
The checkpoint was erected at the expense of dozens of dunums of Palestinian lands preventing local farmers’ access to their agricultural lands he pointed out.
For his part Sebastia mayor Muhammad Azem affirmed that “the checkpoint was erected mainly to restrict and disturb the locals’ freedom of movement and their right to practice their daily life.
Azem pointed to the settlers’ escalated attacks in the area including spraying pepper stone throwing and shooting at cars saying that these attacks are carried out under IOF protection.
