Israel sets up roadblocks around Palestinian neighborhoods in al-Quds

Israeli forces have set up concrete blocks around several neighborhoods in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), imposing more restrictions on Palestinians’ movement in the occupied city.

Israeli paramilitary border police used their vehicles to block exits at the edge of Jabel Mukabar, Ras al-Amud and several other Palestinian neighborhoods in East al-Quds on Thursday.

Israeli forces examined the identity papers of Palestinian motorists and carried out body searches in the occupied region.

Israel has announced further drastic measures to intensify its crackdown on Palestinians. It has eased firearms laws for Israeli settlers and stripped some Palestinian citizens of their residency permits.

The new measures come after Israeli cabinet had authorized the East al-Quds crackdown in an overnight session.

Dimitrii Delliani, an official in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement, said closing entrances to Palestinian neighborhoods was “collective punishment in violation of all international law.”