HaMoked to the Israel Police: Allow free passage via Qalandia and Shu’fat checkpoints for East Jerusalem residents and their family members trapped on the other side of the Separation Wall

Following Hamas’ brutal assault on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, HaMoked received complaints that the Israel Police closed the Qalandia and Shu’fat checkpoints leading to Jerusalem and prevented passage of permanent residents of East Jerusalem and their family members – Palestinians from the West Bank who live in East Jerusalem lawfully pursuant to stay permits issued under the family unification procedure. The families affected live in the Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Separation Wall, such as Kufr ‘Aqab and Shu’fat refugee camp.

Therefore, on October 15, 2023, HaMoked wrote to the police to demand the immediate opening of the Qalandia checkpoint, which apparently had been hermetically blocked with concrete blocks, trapping the inhabitants inside their neighborhood. HaMoked also wrote that passage via Shu’fat checkpoint, by foot and by car, takes over two and a half hours, and moreover, holders of valid stay permits living in the neighborhood are tuned back at the checkpoint and are not allowed to reach the rest of Jerusalem.

HaMoked asserted that Israel is obligated to ensure the health and wellbeing of East Jerusalem Palestinians as well as their family members, be they citizens, residents or stay-permit holders, and to allow their free access to vital services, to purchase food, reach medical services, access vital work places and so on. Israel is also obligated to enable permit holders to maintain their family intact in Israel in a reasonable manner and ensure their freedom of movement.

* On October 23, 2023, ACRI and HaMoked sent the Minister of Defense and the Israel Police another letter on the matter, demanding the “Jerusalem envelope” checkpoints be turned fully operational again, including ash-Sheikh Sa'd checkpoint. The organizations asserted that some checkpoints were operating part time only, while others were completely shut; this in contrast to the Police response of October 17, 2023, which stated that all checkpoints were operating as usual. The organizations also stressed the severe harm caused to the trapped inhabitants, particularly to children in special education.