In a vast parking lot plunged into darkness, with the screeching of tires and the exhaust fumes, dozens of Palestinian shared cab drivers were stamping their feet in front of their vehicles. It was 7 am on Sunday, February 2, the first day of the week in Ramallah. Usually, at this time of day, the orange eight-seater vans, known as serviss in Arabic (from the French word for "service"), which serve as public transport throughout the West Bank, fill up at full speed.

But this morning, as on previous days, customers were scarce. "I've lost more than half my usual passengers," said 60-year-old Omar al-Bourini, at the wheel of his minivan with empty seats, engine running, as if he didn't want to waste a second to get going. "Today, a lot of people are afraid to travel."

Since the ceasefire negotiated between Israel and Hamas came into effect on January 15, the already crushing gridlock of the West Bank due to Israeli traffic obstructions (checkpoints, stone blocks, earth embankments, trenches, metal barriers, etc.) has worsened. According to the Palestinian governmental committee for resistance to the wall and settlements, 17 new Israeli constructions have appeared.

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