Israel to close West Bank crossings before elections amid military operation

The Israeli military is closing West Bank crossings and conducting a major operation ahead of Tuesday's elections, displacing hundreds of Palestinians.

The operation, which began in response to a gun attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others in Hebron on Friday, has placed major restrictions on movement.

In Hebron, more than 2,200 people, including nearly 200 children under the age of 18, have been displaced over the last two days.

All entrances and exits to the city have been sealed, with the epicenter of the operation in Deir Bahha and another part of the city called Al-Jalda.

Operation details

The Israeli military said it operated in more than 400 different locations over the weekend and arrested 40 Palestinians it claimed were affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli settlements for work on Sunday and Monday, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after the election.

The election is largely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and security policies during the past three years of war.

Netanyahu, who is running for reelection and has received President Trump's endorsement, is under pressure to demonstrate a strong show of force against Palestinian attackers.

Background and context

The West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war, is home to roughly 3 million Palestinians and 540,000 Israeli settlers.

Hebron is one of its most tense cities and the only place where Jewish settlers live in the heart of a densely populated Palestinian area under Israeli military protection.

Six Israelis have been killed this year in attacks in the West Bank, which is experiencing a surge of violence. During the same period, 112 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.