What is life like for Palestinians living in the West Bank?

702's Clement Manyathela speaks to Osama Nazzal, a journalist and resident of the West Bank.

Listen below:

For many Palestinians living in the West Bank, life is one of navigating checkpoints, restrictions, and economic hardship, while also facing the risks of displacement and violence. 

Families often struggle to secure the basics like food, education, and healthcare.

The West Bank is a landlocked territory between Israel and Jordan. In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the Six-Day War.

It is home to millions of Palestinians and around 700,000 Israeli settlers, and has been at the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"It's important not to differentiate between the occupied West Bank and Gaza, as they constitute one entity of land and one people. It is all the occupied Palestinian territories."

- Osama Nazzal, Journalist and West Bank resident

"But because Israel cut off the Palestinian territories, the West Bank is separated from Gaza and Jerusalem."

- Osama Nazzal, Journalist and West Bank resident

Nazzal explains that the separation is enforced through checkpoints imposed by Israel.

Palestinians have historically needed permission to pass through these checkpoints.

"I'm now a few kilometeres from Jerusalem, but I can't get there because of the Israeli checkpoints."

- Osama Nazzal, Journalist and West Bank resident

"Sometimes you spend five or six hours at the checkpoint without them letting you through."

- Osama Nazzal, Journalist and West Bank resident

Scroll up to audio player to listen to the full conversation.