LONDON: As fuel shortages deepen across the occupied West Bank, Palestinians who had turned to nearby Israeli settlements for gasoline now face new restrictions that could further limit mobility and work.
Palestinian employees at the Barkan Industrial Park in the northern West Bank said they were told on Wednesday they could no longer refuel at gas stations in the nearby Israeli settlement of Ariel, according to Palestinian and Israeli media.
The notice, circulated via WhatsApp and in some cases delivered verbally during the workday, warned that workers attempting to refuel could face detention, questioning or workplace penalties starting July 30, The Times of Israel reported.
The message cited guidance from security officials at the Ariel municipality and said Palestinian workers would be barred from entering two stations: the Ten gas station in western Ariel and the Sonol station at the settlement’s entrance.
Palestinian workers at Barkan Industrial Park say they were warned they could no longer refuel at gas stations in nearby Israeli settlement of Ariel. (Shuki/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0)
