Huwwara checkpoint

Huwwara checkpoint, 2005

The Huwwara checkpoint or Huwara checkpoint or Hawara checkpoint (Arabic: حاجز حوارة‎‎) (Hebrew: מחסום חווארה‎, Makhsom Hawara) is a major Israel Defense Forces checkpoint at one of the four main exits of Nablus. It is located south of the city. It was established on October 2000. The facility was named after the nearby village of Huwara.

Conditions at Hawara were relaxed in 2009, and since then, Palestinian vehicles have sometimes faced only random inspections.

History

In 2002, the checkpoint was open from morning to evening. Later, it remained open 24 hours a day. All vehicles were required to have special permits and be searched.

In 2008, renovations were carried out to ease the overcrowding.

In July 2009, the checkpoint was opened to allow pedestrians to cross freely without being searched. Vehicles were still spot checked.

In 2011, Israeli newspapers wrote that the IDF would remove the checkpoint. According to the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, the checkpoint is still in use as of 2014.

Violent incidents

On March 24, 2004 a 16-year-old, Hussam Abdo tried to pass through the checkpoint wearing a suicide explosive belt strapped to his body in an attempted suicide attack.

In May 2005, a 15-year-old was arrested at the checkpoint with two pipe bombs inside a black bag, apparently instructed to give them to someone in Israel. In November 2007, two Palestinian teenagers were detained for interrogation after they were found to be carrying three bombs. A sapper detonated them without incident. In September 2008, a Palestinian woman threw acid in a soldier's face, leaving him blind in one eye.

See also

• Palestinian freedom of movement