Israel has ordered the closure of all West Bank border crossings ahead of Tuesday's upcoming election, while the military advances with demolishing Palestinian homes following a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers.
On Sunday, 25 Oct 2026 GMT+7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they will close all land border crossings in the West Bank on Tuesday's general election day (27 Oct), and banned Palestinian workers from entering or leaving the West Bank area, including industrial zones.
Additionally, Israel has prohibited Palestinian workers from entering Israeli settlements starting Sunday. Since Hamas in Gaza attacked Israel on 7 Oct 2023, only a few Palestinian workers have been permitted to return to work in Israel.
Last Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in response to an incident where two Palestinian gunmen shot and killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three at a checkpoint near Hebron in the West Bank on 23 Oct. All the gunmen were killed.
On the same day, the Israeli military demolished homes and shops in Hebron, leaving hundreds of families homeless. The Israeli defense minister stated about 2,000 people were displaced and the city was tightly sealed off, affecting the movement of over 200,000 residents.
Israeli human rights groups criticized the military operation, stating that demolishing the homes of those suspected in the shooting amounts to "collective punishment."
The mayor of Hebron suggested that the military actions were motivated by the "election," saying Netanyahu and his government ministers aim to win votes from right-wing groups and Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
Furthermore, Netanyahu warned of a “big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority (PA), though details of this remain unclear.
Meanwhile, thousands protested the Israeli government in Tel Aviv, organized by the “October Council,” representing families of the dead and hostages from the 7 Oct 2023 attacks. They demanded government accountability for failing to prevent Hamas attacks and called for a national inquiry.
Leaders of the four main opposition parties, including former military chief Gadi Eizenkot, who is polling closely with Netanyahu, also joined the demonstration.
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Source:bbc