Israel escalates siege against Jericho with iron gates, cement blocks

Israeli forces have escalated their siege against the occupied West Bank city of Jericho and the surrounding areas, installing iron gates and cement blocks.

The Palestinian city has been under siege for almost two weeks, with Israel aiming to prevent growing armed resistance in the area, The New Arab's Arabic sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported on Wednesday.

Ayman Gharib, an activist in the Jordan Valley region, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli forces installed an iron gate near the northern entrance to Jericho and placed cement blocks on a road leading to a nearby village.

Efforts to pave dirt roads have faced attacks from masked settlers who wear military uniforms and carry weapons with authorisation and protection from the Israeli army, Gharib added.

The settlers deliberately crashed jeeps into Palestinian vehicles to destroy them and harm those inside, Gharib said, adding this was specifically taking place on secondary routes like the Al-Maarajat road – even though it's part of Area A.

Area A of the West Bank is the part Israeli recognises as being under full Palestinian Authority control.

Since the start of this year, Jericho and the surrounding areas have seen several shootings against Israeli targets.

An armed group in the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp near the city has announced injuries among the Israeli military's ranks.

So far in 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 100 Palestinians across the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.