Israel closes West Bank crossings on election day after attack — SkimNews
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- Israel Defense Forces closed all West Bank land crossings on election day and barred Palestinian workers from entering settlements, citing security after a deadly attack on soldiers
- Israeli military launched a major operation in Hebron following the killing of two soldiers, demolishing homes and displacing about 2,000 residents, with one street appearing flattened in online footage
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation after the attack and threatened a 'very big surprise' for the Palestinian Authority, days before Israel's national election
- Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the military operation was driven by election politics, aimed at securing far-right and settler support for Netanyahu's campaign
- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed approximately 2,000 people were displaced by the Hebron operation, which included sweeping demolitions of homes and businesses
- Palestinian workers are largely banned from entering Israel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, with only a small fraction of pre-attack permits restored
Why it matters: The timing of Israel’s sweeping closures and demolitions—just days before an election—amplifies concerns that security actions are being leveraged for political gain, directly impacting 2,000 displaced Palestinians and over 100,000 workers formerly employed in Israel, while deepening scrutiny over collective punishment tactics.
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