Israel's military announced Sunday that all West Bank land crossings will close on Tuesday during the country's election, and Palestinian workers will be barred from entering settlements and industrial zones. The Israeli Defense Forces said the restrictions apply to the entire territory, including the Jordan Valley.
The closures follow a Palestinian attack Friday that killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint. Three other soldiers were wounded. The two gunmen were also killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major military operation in response.
The operation has centered on Hebron, where Israeli forces have demolished homes and businesses. Defense Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents were displaced, with footage online showing at least one entire street flattened. The military had already cordoned off the city of 200,000 residents before Sunday's worker ban, heavily restricting movement.
The timing prompted criticism. Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was "driven by the elections" and that Netanyahu and his ministers were attempting to secure votes from the far right and settlers. In an interview released Saturday, Netanyahu threatened a "very big surprise" for the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli rights groups have criticized the home demolitions as collective punishment. Israel commonly demolishes homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis in the West Bank, a practice documented by local human rights organizations.
Before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers held permits to enter Israel. Since then, only a small fraction have had permits restored.
The operation comes during heightened regional tension and days before Tuesday's election. On Saturday, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv for an anti-government demonstration organized by the October Council, a group founded by families of victims and hostages from the October 7 attack. The rally demanded accountability for the failure to prevent that assault. Leaders of the four main opposition parties attended, including Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief of staff who polls show is competitive with Netanyahu.