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The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that political leaders approved a prohibition on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers throughout Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley and industrial zones for the October 27 election. Palestinian workers will additionally face restrictions on entering Israeli communities in those areas starting Sunday with exceptions only for industrial zones and a limited number of other approved sites. The announcement follows an attack Friday near Hebron in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others before the assailants were killed according to the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major operation in response to the checkpoint shooting Al-Monitor reported. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that displaced residents in Hebron would not be allowed to return until operations against Hamas issues in the city concluded. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported more than 70 arrests across the West Bank on Saturday as troops sealed off roads and conducted raids AP News said.
The IDF has suspended leave for personnel and deployed extra troops to the West Bank to bolster readiness ahead of the Knesset vote Israel National News reported. Prior to the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel more than 100,000 Palestinian workers held permits to enter Israel daily but only a fraction have regained access since then according to data referenced across multiple outlets. The latest measures will further constrain movement and economic interactions in the territory on election day.
Israeli forces evicted families in the Deir Bahha neighborhood of Hebron linked to the attackers and left streets largely deserted after issuing overnight evacuation orders AP News reported from the scene. Residents carried essential supplies such as flour and gas canisters on foot through military gates while vehicle traffic remained blocked in the area. The operation extended to other West Bank cities with additional checkpoints and highway closures limiting travel.
The military described the steps as based on a situational assessment to maintain security during the national election when resources could face added demands. Israelis head to the polls Tuesday to decide on the future of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government amid the heightened tensions. No timeline has been provided for when crossings and worker access will resume after voting ends.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society documented the scale of arrests as forces continued raids and demolitions in the Hebron area. Al-Monitor noted that Hamas praised the original attack without claiming direct responsibility for it. Israeli officials have not released updated figures on the total number of people displaced by the ongoing operation in the city.
