As the holy month of Ramadan descends upon the occupied West Bank, the daily rhythm of fasting and prayer is violently interrupted by a network of military barriers that fracture Palestinian life. The 916 permanent obstacles, including checkpoints, iron gates, and earth mounds, transform the sacred act of breaking the fast into an ordeal of uncertainty. For countless families, the call to prayer is drowned out by the grinding wait at military crossings, where soldiers reportedly employ deliberate delays and provocations as the sun sets. The joy of gathering for iftar is replaced by hours of sitting in vehicles under the gaze of armed guards, often witnessing scenes of soldiers eating and drinking before those who are fasting.

Testimonies from those trapped in this system reveal a calculated cruelty. A government employee from Nablus described how soldiers suddenly sealed a checkpoint for no apparent reason just before sunset, then provocatively consumed food and cigarettes before the eyes of stranded worshippers. A university student recalled being pulled from a shared taxi on a cold, rainy evening, his hands bound, as soldiers mockingly offered him food knowing he was fasting. These are not isolated incidents but recurring chapters in a long history of using movement restrictions to inflict psychological torment.

Yet against this backdrop of systematic humiliation, a remarkable movement of mutual aid flourishes. Youth groups and scouting organisations have mobilised to set up impromptu iftar stations at major junctions, distributing dates, water, and simple meals to those caught in the military web. What began as an initiative to support worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque has expanded into a coordinated network covering multiple checkpoints around Nablus. Local clubs, sports associations, and ordinary citizens now join forces, with children handing out boxes of water alongside seasoned volunteers, transforming the checkpoints from sites of oppression into spaces of communal care and quiet defiance. This grassroots solidarity, born of necessity, ensures that even in the depths of prolonged military rule, the spirit of Ramadan endures.