Since the beginning of the war, major movement restrictions have been imposed on Palestinian residents of Hebron. Palestinians in the city are under curfew, which means that all residents, including young children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are prohibited from leaving their homes; they are not allowed to open their shops; driving in private Palestinian vehicles is not allowed and emergency and service vehicles must coordinate any movement via a lengthy and complicated process; and barbed wire fences have been arbitrarily placed within residential neighborhoods. As the war has continued the curfew order has been relaxed, though not completely lifted, and many of the movement restrictions remain in place.
On March 17, 2025, we filed a petition with the Supreme Court on behalf of six Palestinian residents of Hebron, demanding that the travel restrictions be removed. The petition describes the harm to what remains of Palestinian residents’ daily routines and human rights, including freedom of movement, the right to education, the right to property, the right to livelihood and a dignified existence. The petition argues moreover that the restrictions were imposed without authority or transparency, and without any kind of decision-making process that considered the rights of the city’s protected residents. The restrictions are disproportionate, as the considerable harm to the Palestinian population far outweighs any benefit; and that they reflect a discriminatory collective punishment that is prohibited under international law.
HCJ 42101-03-25 Jaber v. IDF Commander in the West Bank Attorney: Reut Shaer
ACRI's Petition, March 17, 2025 (Heb)
The petition was written with the assistance of field coordinator Muhannad Anati