Colonial checkpoint infrastructure restricts Palestinian access to sacred sites during Ramadan, reflecting enduring occupation dynamics
Original framing: “Palestinians wait at West Bank checkpoint to enter Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers” — Africa News
Checkpoints are part of a long history of colonial control over Palestinian movement, from British Mandate restrictions to Israeli military orders. The Qalandiya checkpoint, established in 2002, mirrors earlier systems like the Ottoman-era permit system. This continuity reveals occupation as a deliberate, evolving strategy rather than a temporary measure.
The Qalandiya checkpoint is not an isolated security measure but a node in Israel's apartheid infrastructure, designed to fragment Palestinian life and control sacred geography.
This system mirrors colonial practices worldwide, from South Africa's pass laws to U.S. border militarization, revealing a global pattern of racialized movement control. Palestinian resistance—through prayer, art, and legal challenges—demonstrates how marginalized communities reclaim agency under occupation. Historical precedents like the South African anti-apartheid movement show that dismantling such systems requires international solidarity and accountability mechanisms. The path forward must center Palestinian sovereignty, not temporary concessions, to end the 56-year occupation.