Israel to close West Bank crossings on election day amid escalating crackdown

Palestinian workers barred from settlements as military operations intensify after deadly checkpoint attack

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Updated25 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

Israel will close all West Bank land crossings on Tuesday’s election day and ban Palestinian workers from entering settlements, the military has announced, as a crackdown in the occupied territory escalates following the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen. The Hebron mayor accused the government of using the operation to secure far-right votes.

The Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday that it would impose a “ban on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, including industrial zones, as well as the closure of all land crossings” on Tuesday, when Israel holds its national election. Most Palestinian workers will also be barred from settlements from Sunday, with exceptions for industrial zones and a limited number of other areas.

Before the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers were permitted to enter Israel. Since then only a small fraction have had their permits restored.

The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened a “very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority in an interview broadcast on Saturday. Netanyahu launched a major operation on Friday in response to a checkpoint attack in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and injured three others. The gunmen were also killed.

The Israeli military has been demolishing homes and businesses in the city of Hebron. Defence Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents had been displaced, with at least one street appearing flattened in footage shared online. The military had already cordoned off the city, heavily restricting the movement of its 200,000 residents. The practice of demolishing the homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis has been criticised by Israeli rights groups as collective punishment.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was “driven by the elections” and that Netanyahu and his ministers were trying to secure the votes of the far right and settlers.

Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday for a large anti-government protest organised by the October Council, a group founded by families of victims and hostages taken by militants on 7 October 2023. “Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability, and establish a state commission of inquiry,” the group wrote on X ahead of the rally. The protest drew the leaders of the four main opposition parties, including former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who is neck-and-neck with Netanyahu in the polls.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The closure and worker ban disrupt the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Palestinians already severely restricted since October 2023.
The timing of the operation, days before an election, raises questions about political motivations behind security policy.
The Tel Aviv protest shows deep domestic divisions over accountability for the 7 October attack and the government's handling of the war and occupation.

Background

Israel is holding a general election on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Netanyahu seeking to retain power amid ongoing war in Gaza and rising tensions in the occupied West Bank. The military operation in Hebron follows a deadly checkpoint attack on Friday. Israel’s practice of demolishing the homes of alleged attackers has been condemned by human rights groups as collective punishment under international law. The 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Key Perspectives

Israel Defense Forces: announced the closure and worker ban as security measures following a fatal shooting attack by Palestinian gunmen.
Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari: says the operation is “driven by the elections” and aimed at securing votes from the far right and settlers.
October Council (hostage and victim families): organised the anti-government protest, demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures.

What to Watch

The election outcome on Tuesday and whether Netanyahu's coalition can hold or lose ground.
Whether the military operation in Hebron expands further and how it affects the civilian population.
The Palestinian Authority’s response to Netanyahu’s threat of a “very big surprise.”

Sources

AP Top News at 4:03 a.m. EDT · Philadelphia Inquirer
Israel to close occupied West Bank crossings as it locks down Hebron · Al Jazeera
Israel to close West Bank crossings on election day as crackdown escalates · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedIsrael will close West Bank crossings on election day amid an escalating crackdown.BBC News: “Israel to close West Bank crossings on election day as crackdown escalates.”
Partly supportedMilitary operations are intensifying after the deadly checkpoint attack.BBC News: “The restrictions come amid a crackdown in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers in the territory.”
SupportedIsrael will close all West Bank land crossings on Tuesday and bar Palestinian workers from entering settlements.BBC News: “All West Bank land crossings will be closed during Tuesday's election in Israel, the country's military says, and Palestinian workers will be barred from entering all settlements.”
SupportedThe IDF announced a “ban on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, including industrial zones, as well as the closure of all land crossings”.BBC News: “The Israel Defense Forces announced a "ban on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, including industrial zones, as well as the closure of all land crossings" on Tuesday.”
Partly supportedThe Sunday announcement came hours after Netanyahu threatened a “very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority.BBC News: “In an interview with Israel's i24 television channel released on Saturday, Netanyahu threatened a "very big surprise" for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the territory.”
Partly supportedNetanyahu launched a major operation on Friday in response to the checkpoint attack.BBC News: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major operation on Friday in response to the killing of two Israeli soldiers by two Palestinian gunmen in an attack on a checkpoint.”
SupportedThe checkpoint attack killed two Israeli soldiers and injured three others; the two gunmen were also killed.BBC News: “Three other Israeli soldiers were injured, and the gunmen were also killed.”
SupportedHebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was “driven by the elections” and that Netanyahu and his ministers were trying to secure far-right and settler votes.BBC News: “Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was being "driven by the elections" and that Netanyahu and his ministers were attempting to secure the votes of the far right and the settlers.”
SupportedMost Palestinian workers would be barred from settlements from Sunday, with exceptions for industrial zones and a limited number of other areas.BBC News: “It said most workers would also be barred from settlements from Sunday, with the exception of industrial zones and a limited number of other areas.”
SupportedMore than 100,000 Palestinian workers were permitted to enter Israel before the 7 October 2023 attack, and only a small fraction have since had permits restored.BBC News: “Before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers were permitted to enter Israel. Since then only a small fraction have had their permits restored.”
SupportedKatz said about 2,000 residents had been displaced, and footage showed at least one street appearing flattened.BBC News: “Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents had been displaced by the operation, which has led to at least one whole street appearing to have been flattened, according to footage shared online.”
SupportedThe October Council wrote: “Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability, and establish a state commission of inquiry.”BBC News: “"Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability, and establish a state commission of inquiry," the October Council wrote on X ahead of the rally.”