Israel to close occupied West Bank crossings as Hebron lockdown continues
Israel announced it will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the day of its general election, as a lockdown in Hebron continues.
The Israeli army stated that it will bar Palestinian workers from entering most areas of the West Bank from Sunday through Monday, and a full closure of crossings into and out of the territory will be enforced on Tuesday.
The announcement follows a day after Israeli troops imposed a lockdown in Hebron, displacing thousands of Palestinians from their homes.
The operation was triggered by a deadly attack on Friday, in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at an army reserve base, before being killed themselves.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “full lockdown” of the occupied West Bank in response to the attack.
They will not be allowed to return to their neighbourhood until we’ve finished dealing with all the Hamas issues in Hebron.
Displacement and blockade
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that “about 2,000” people had been displaced.
Hebron’s Mayor Yousef al-Ja’bari told Al Jazeera that the city and several neighbouring villages were under a complete blockade.
He stated that 2,200 people had been forced from their homes by Israeli troops and raids.
Palestinian Authority officials called Israel’s actions “collective punishment”, citing the demolition of homes, forced displacement of entire neighbourhoods, and the “closure and siege of Palestinian cities”.
Soldiers announced forced evacuation orders over loudspeakers late at night, leaving residents with no time to prepare and few places to go.
About 200,000 Palestinians live in the city of Hebron, and a further 600,000 in the Hebron governorate, making it the West Bank’s most populous area.
Election and security
The Israeli military has said the operation will last several days.
Netanyahu suggested bigger action was coming, saying he was planning an operation on a scale not seen since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is facing a tight race for a new term in Tuesday’s vote.
Analysts say he is trying to capitalise on ongoing regional military conflicts and national security fears to anchor his re-election campaign.
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