Qalandiya, Tue 8.11.11, Morning
Today was the second day of holiday of Eid el-Adha. Yet many men were going to work, and there was higher than usual number of women and children at the checkpoint (perhaps on their way to visit relatives on the holiday). Thus we arrived at 6:10 to find long lines both leading into the three narrow, cage-like passageways and in front of the Humanitarian Gate. The three turnstiles at the end of the narrow passages opened at about 6:18 but only 15 people in all were allowed through. This was because only two of the five checking stations were operating at that hour. Thereafter, the turnstiles were opened only once every 15 minutes or so, and a maximum of 30 or so people in all were allowed through each time.
The Humanitarian Gate did not open until 6:25, when some 80 people were allowed through, after their passes were checked. It did not open again until 6:55 – half an hour later—by which time a crowd of approx. 120 people, including some 10 infants and toddlers (from what we could see) was crowded in front of it. We asked the Civil Administration
officer on site (a man who we have come to know as pleasant and who actually takes the trouble to communicate with his “clients” at the checkpoint) why he was not opening the gate when he could see the many young children being caught in the crush. He replied that men standing at the head of the line there were not entitled to use the gate, and he would not open it until they left. We commented that he was punishing infants and toddlers for the sins of others and suggested that, after opening the gate, he check the passes of those he suspected of not being entitled to use it and send back those who did not qualify (a common practice at Qalandia). In reply, he suggested that those justly waiting to use the Humanitarian Gate pressure the others to leave. At this point we called the Humanitarian Line, which transferred us to the DCO – all to no avail. We then took counsel with Hanna Barag, as the situation at the Humanitarian Gate was at an impasse. The gate was finally opened after half an hour. Thereafter it was opened each time a crowd built up. Incidentally, it did not appear that passes were checked.
Earlier we had called the DCO to describe the overall situation and ask to ask why checking stations 3-5 were not operating. The reply was that relatively few people had come to the checkpoint on the first day of Eid el-Adha, so that soldiers were assigned for only two checking stations this morning. A third station opened sometime after 7:00, and we told by the Civil Administration officer on site that Stations 4-5 would be opened at 8:00 (well after laborers were to have reported to work). A man at the end of one of the lines told us in a phone call later in the morning that it had taken him 1 hour and 45 minutes (from 7:00) to traverse the checkpoint.
When we left at 7:30 (to take a child to Hadassah Hospital), about 100 people were waiting to move through the three turnstiles and some 20 people were standing in front of the Humanitarian Gate.