Israel Announces Closure of All Land Crossings With West Bank on Election Day

International Desk | PNN

The Israeli military has announced that all land crossings between Israel and the occupied West Bank will be closed during the country's general election on Tuesday, October 27. Restrictions will also be imposed on the entry of Palestinian workers into most areas on Sunday and Monday, according to the Israeli military.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the military said entry and exit routes to and from the West Bank would be completely closed on election day. The announcement came a day after Israeli forces were accused of conducting an operation in the city of Hebron that forced thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes.

According to Al Jazeera, two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday when two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli military reserve base in Hebron. The two Palestinian attackers were also killed. Since the incident, Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of operations across the West Bank.

Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “complete blockade” of the West Bank. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said approximately 2,000 Palestinians had been displaced as a result of the operations. In an interview with the public broadcaster Kan, he said displaced residents would not be allowed to return to their areas until operations against Hamas-related elements in Hebron had been completed.

Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Jabari told Al Jazeera that the city and several surrounding villages had been placed under a complete blockade. On Saturday, he said approximately 2,200 people had been forced to leave their homes because of Israeli military operations and searches.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) alleged that residents had been ordered to leave their homes through announcements made over loudspeakers late at night. As a result, families were not given sufficient time to gather essential belongings or arrange safe accommodation, according to the PA.

The Palestinian Authority described the Israeli measures as “collective punishment.” It accused Israel of punishing ordinary people through the destruction of homes, the forced displacement of entire neighbourhoods, and the blockade of Palestinian cities. The authority also called for international pressure on Israel to ensure the protection of Hebron's residents.

Approximately 200,000 Palestinians live in the city of Hebron, while the wider Hebron Governorate has a population of around 600,000. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the West Bank. The Israeli military has said its operations there could continue for several days.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces a difficult contest in Tuesday's election. He has also indicated that the military operation in the West Bank could expand further. According to his remarks, Israel is planning an operation on a scale not seen since it occupied the West Bank in 1967.

Analysts believe Netanyahu is attempting to use public concerns over regional military conflicts and national security in his election campaign. However, the intensification of the blockade and the displacement of Palestinians ahead of the election have triggered fresh tensions.

The decision to close land crossings for the election could further restrict the movement of Palestinian workers and ordinary residents. At the same time, concerns are growing over the consequences of the ongoing military operation in Hebron, the displacement of residents from their homes, and the wider blockade.