West Bank: Israel seals entrances to two Palestinian villages near Tulkarm with iron gates

The Israeli military installed an iron gate at the main entrance to the town of Beit Lid, east of Tulkarm, fully sealing off the access point, Wafa news agency reported on Thursday.

Local residents told Wafa that the Israeli military replaced the earth mounds that had previously blocked the entrance and replaced them with a metal gate, a move seen as tightening the siege imposed on the town.

The Israeli military originally closed the main entrance to Beit Lid in November 2023 by erecting earth mounds to isolate the town from surrounding areas. Since then, residents have been forced to use dangerous and rugged alternative routes to reach Tulkarm and other destinations.

In a related development, the Israeli military also recently sealed off the main entrance to the neighbouring town of Ramin, also located east of Tulkarm, with an iron gate. That entrance had likewise been blocked by earth mounds since November 2023.