West Bank checkpoints cripple dairy producer and broader Palestinian economy

In the village of Rujeib, southeast of Nablus, Al-Kamel Dairy Factory has been hit hard by routine delays at Israeli military checkpoints, causing raw milk shipments to be held for hours. The resulting spoilage and extended wait times have cut the company's sales by 30 to 40 percent, prompting the layoff of at least 12 employees and the parking of two distribution trucks in its yard. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, the West Bank now hosts roughly 925 checkpoints, with 147 in the Nablus governorate, contributing to a more than 50 percent decline in overall transport movement since the Gaza conflict began.

A March 2025 study by the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute found average delays of 42 minutes for trips outside Nablus, translating to daily losses of about 2.8 million shekels for the Palestinian economy. Additional fuel costs and wasted milk—estimated at 10 tonnes—further strain businesses. Local merchants describe the area as a ghost town, attributing the downturn to the checkpoints and the broader separation barrier that isolates large swaths of West Bank land.