Ramallah, September 29 (QNA) – The Israeli occupation’s systematic policy of cantonizing Palestinian territorial contiguity in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate poses a perilous threat, the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission has warned, saying that the Governorate is home to almost 400,000 Palestinians distributed across nearly 80 residential units.

In a statement Tuesday, the Commission said the Israeli occupation is creating conditions to reopen Route 463 to settler traffic, a road that runs through the heart of the Ramallah-Al-Bireh urban area and divides its northern and southern parts.

It noted that the road would isolate eight villages and two large residential neighborhoods in the northern part of the urban area from the rest of it.

This plan is part of a methodical cantonization policy in this Governorate, the statement continued, stressing that the region has already gone through an accumulated cantonization process due to Area C, settlements, bypass roads, checkpoints and military gates, amid tightening movement restrictions since Oct. 7, 2023.

The statement further cautioned that reopening this road for settlers is an additional step toward actual annexation and depopulating Area C of Palestinians, a move that is antithetical to international humanitarian law.

It argued that this step also runs counter to the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention that prohibit changing the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory and require the occupying Power to protect the population from any measure that undermines their geographic and social cohesion. (QNA)