Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Israel to close West Bank crossings on election day
Israel said it will close all land crossings with the West Bank on election day, Tuesday.
The move comes during a large Israeli military operation in Hebron, a city in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents have been displaced by the operation.
The military had already cordoned off the city, restricting movement for its roughly 200,000 residents.
The operation followed a shooting in which Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers.
Israeli forces often demolish homes belonging to Palestinians suspected of attacks, a practice Israeli rights groups have criticised as collective punishment.
Hebron’s mayor said the operation was driven by the election, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a “very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority.
The crossing closure is scheduled for election day; no further details about its duration are given.
Israel says it will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the day of its general election.
The Israeli military also said Palestinian workers would be barred from entering most areas of the West Bank from Sunday through Monday.
The measures come as Israeli forces carry out an operation in Hebron after a Friday attack that killed two Israeli soldiers.
Israel’s defence minister said about 2,000 people had been displaced from their homes in the operation.
The Palestinian Authority called Israel’s actions collective punishment, while Hebron’s mayor said the operation was driven by the election.
- Who
- Israel announced the closures and worker restrictions. Palestinian residents, including people in Hebron, are affected.
- What
- Israel will close all land crossings with the West Bank on election day and bar Palestinian workers from entering most areas from Sunday through Monday.
- When
- The full crossing closure is planned for Tuesday, the day of Israel’s general election.
- Where
- The occupied West Bank, including Hebron and its surrounding area.
- Why
- Israel’s announcement came amid a military operation following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. The sources do not state a specific reason for the election-day crossing closure.
Israeli government and military
Palestinian Authority and Hebron’s mayor
Security operation
Israeli government and military
Israel’s leaders said the operation was addressing security concerns and “Hamas issues” in Hebron.
Palestinian Authority and Hebron’s mayor
The Palestinian Authority called the actions collective punishment; Hebron’s mayor said the operation was driven by the election.
Displacement and restrictions
Israeli government and military
Israel’s defence minister said about 2,000 people had been displaced, and Israel announced restrictions on movement and crossings.
Palestinian Authority and Hebron’s mayor
The Palestinian Authority called for international pressure to protect residents; the mayor said people had been forced from their homes.
Two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base, killing two Israeli soldiers; the gunmen were also killed.
Israeli forces imposed a lockdown in Hebron, and Israel’s defence minister said about 2,000 residents had been displaced.
The Israeli military announced that Palestinian workers would be barred from entering most areas of the West Bank through Monday.
Israel plans to close all land crossings with the West Bank on the day of its general election.
- Election day
- Tuesday
- Crossings
- All land crossings with the occupied West Bank
- Worker restrictions
- Sunday through Monday
- Displaced residents
- About 2,000, according to Israel’s defence minister
- Attack deaths
- Two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen
- Hebron population
- About 200,000 residents in the city, according to Al Jazeera
4 sources
What people are saying
They will not be allowed to return to their neighbourhood until we’ve finished dealing with all the Hamas issues in Hebron
driven by the elections
very big surprise
collective punishment