As Israel approaches a national election on Tuesday, its military has announced a comprehensive closure of all West Bank land crossings and a ban on Palestinian workers entering settlements. These stringent measures follow a deadly attack where Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers in the occupied territory.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a complete prohibition on entry and exit for Palestinian workers across Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, encompassing industrial zones, effective Tuesday. Most workers also face exclusion from settlements starting Sunday, with limited exceptions. This move starkly contrasts the pre-October 7, 2023, situation when over 100,000 Palestinian workers held permits to enter Israel; only a fraction have regained access since.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a major operation last Friday, responding to the checkpoint attack that left two Israeli soldiers dead and three injured, with the two Palestinian assailants also killed.
In the city of Hebron, the military operation has led to extensive demolitions of homes and businesses, displacing hundreds of families. Defence Minister Israel Katz reported approximately 2,000 residents uprooted, with online footage suggesting at least one entire street has been razed. Even before the worker bans, the IDF had already cordoned off Hebron, severely limiting the movement of its 200,000 inhabitants. Israeli rights groups frequently condemn the military's practice of demolishing homes of suspected attackers as collective punishment.
The heightened tensions precede Tuesday's election. Netanyahu, in a Saturday interview with i24 television, hinted at a 'very big surprise' for the Palestinian Authority. Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari suggested the operation serves election purposes, aiming to secure far-right and settler votes for Netanyahu and his ministers.
Concurrently, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday for a significant anti-government demonstration. The October Council, formed by families of victims and hostages from the October 7, 2023 attacks, organized the protest, demanding accountability for failures to prevent the Hamas-led assault. Opposition leaders, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, a strong contender against Netanyahu, participated in the rally.
Image: Wikipedia — Benjamin Netanyahu
📰 Source: BBC World