Hizma, Qalandiya

Everything starts well this morning. The parking fee is 10 NIS. (The parking lot is closed still.)

05:15 We arrive at the checkpoint. The line reaches the covered area. Only 3 check posts are open.

05:30 People are let into the fenced off areas for the first time since our arrival.  The line hardly moves forward, people are waiting quietly. Calling the DCO does not help.  The line reaches the parking lot.

05:38 A small number of people are let through to the check posts. We call the DCO again – "it won't help, so why call'.

05:41 The fenced off areas open for a relatively long time (for about a minute instead of a few seconds). All the people waiting for the line to move on start running towards the entrance. A crowd is gathering at the entrance to the fenced off area. When the turnstiles stop people start pushing and shouting. (See attached pictures and movie.)

05:45 All the people who do not want to push or shout are standing by the fence or sitting down. There is no line any longer, only shouts and confusion.

06:00 People are still pushing. A friend tells us that at this hour the buses bringing the workers to the Atarot Poultry Plant arrive, and that's why there is such pressure.  The line reaches the parking lot. The line to the humanitarian gate is also long.

06:03 An officer and two security guards arrive. They do not understand what the problem is.  The humanitarian gate opens (almost on time).  Many people try to pass through, some without permits who are sent back to the regular line. We talk with many people. They ask us where the pictures will appear, if the intention is to change procedures at the checkpoint so that it will be easier to pass through.  We wish, but probably not…One of the young men says he feels ashamed when we take pictures of them pushing. I say that I feel ashamed because we make them behave like that. Each one and his/her point of view. ..

06:15 People are still pushing in the fenced off areas. People keep joining the relatively long line to the Humanitarian gate.

06:25 It looks as if things have calmed down a little. The line reaches the end of the covered area, but many people are sitting on the side waiting until the worst pressure is over.

06:30 Children on their way to school also arrive at the humanitarian gate.

06:40 We leave. Crowds are still waiting to enter the fenced off areas. The line reaches the parking lot. The line to the humanitarian gate is still long. (The officer, a woman, and two security guards are standing and talking on the side.)

And what a line (!!!) at 

.