Israel to close all West Bank land crossings on election day

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that, starting Sunday, Palestinians will "not be permitted to enter Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley for work." The army will enforce "a ban on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers" and close all land crossings throughout Election Day on October 27.

The announcement follows a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen near Hebron on Friday, which killed two Israeli soldiers and injured three others. The two suspected attackers were also killed in the incident.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility for carrying it out.

Military Response

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to exact a heavy price for the attack, which occurred just days before a tightly contested election where he seeks to secure another term. The IDF reported operating in 40 areas throughout the West Bank on Friday and Saturday, with soldiers announcing evacuations over loudspeakers late at night.

Israeli forces claimed to have "apprehended approximately 40 suspects, including terrorists affiliated with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations." The mayor of Hebron, Yousef al-Jabari, told broadcaster Al Jazeera that some 2,200 people had been forced from their homes since Israeli raids began.

Demolitions and Evacuations

Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also oversees civilian affairs in the West Bank, confirmed he personally ordered "the immediate demolition of a row of illegal structures" following Friday's shooting. "Anyone who messes with us will quickly understand that he will pay a painful price," he wrote on social media.

In the Hebron neighborhood of Ein Deir Baha, vacated buildings were marked with X's and streets were deserted except for Israeli military vehicles. Israeli flags were reportedly draped on a house apparently taken over by troops.

Higazi Shawer al-Tamimi, a 70-year-old shopkeeper, told AFP he was awakened at 1 a.m. by soldiers who gave him only a short time to pack. "My wife's mother, who is 90 years old and lives in the area, had to be carried out because she is ill," he added.

Al-Tamimi believes the West Bank operation is aimed at helping Netanyahu win "with the blood of the Palestinian people." Netanyahu's security reputation was damaged by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, triggering a Gaza conflict that has left over 73,000 Palestinians dead, mostly civilians.

Election Context

Following Friday's attack, Netanyahu promised the response would be followed by an operation on a scale not seen since Israel's occupation of the West Bank began in 1967. The closures and military operations come as Israel prepares for a closely contested parliamentary election on Tuesday.