Israel Closes West Bank Crossings Ahead of Election After Deadly Attack

Israel will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank during its October 27 election following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces have intensified raids, arrested about 40 suspects and displaced approximately 2,200 Palestinians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a stronger response, raising concerns about civilian safety and movement restrictions.

PALESTINIAN WORKERS BARRED AS SECURITY MEASURES TIGHTEN

Israel has announced the closure of all land crossings between Israel and the occupied West Bank during its parliamentary election on Tuesday, October 27, following a deadly attack near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli military said the restrictions would begin on Sunday and prevent Palestinian workers from entering Israeli communities in the West Bank and Jordan Valley for employment. The military also announced that Palestinian entry and exit through the land crossings would be prohibited throughout Election Day.
The move comes as Israeli forces intensify military operations across the West Bank following Friday’s shooting attack. The closures are part of heightened security measures ahead of the election, although they are expected to disrupt the movement of Palestinian workers who depend on access to Israeli workplaces for their livelihoods.

DEADLY SHOOTING NEAR HEBRON TRIGGERS MILITARY RESPONSE

According to the Israeli military, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others injured in an attack carried out by Palestinian gunmen near Hebron on Friday. The military said the two suspected attackers were also killed.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, praised the attack but did not claim responsibility for carrying it out.
The incident has increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a difficult election campaign. Netanyahu has promised a severe response, warning that the military operation would be much larger than the measures taken so far.
The attack has also intensified security concerns in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have expanded raids and operations in recent days.

ISRAELI FORCES CONDUCT RAIDS ACROSS 40 AREAS

The Israeli military said its forces operated in approximately 40 locations across the West Bank on Friday and Saturday. According to the military, around 40 suspects were arrested, including individuals it described as members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Residents reported that soldiers used loudspeakers late at night to announce evacuations in some neighbourhoods.
The mayor of Hebron, Yousef al-Jabari, said approximately 2,200 people had been forced to leave their homes since the raids began on Friday. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the reported figure and said Palestinians would not be permitted to return to certain areas until the military had completed its operations against Hamas in Hebron.
The restrictions have raised concerns about the safety and living conditions of displaced residents, particularly families who were given little time to gather their belongings.

FAMILIES FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES

Reports from the Hebron neighbourhood of Ein Deir Baha described deserted streets, evacuated buildings and an increased presence of Israeli military vehicles.
Some buildings reportedly bore markings indicating that they had been searched or cleared, while Israeli flags were seen on a house apparently occupied by troops.
A 70-year-old shopkeeper, Higazi Shawer al-Tamimi, said soldiers woke him at around 1 a.m. and ordered him to leave, giving him only a short time to pack his belongings.
He also described the difficulties faced by vulnerable residents. According to his account, his 90-year-old mother-in-law, who was ill, had to be carried out of the area.
Such accounts highlight the immediate humanitarian consequences of military operations, especially for older people, people with illnesses and families with limited time or resources to find alternative accommodation.
Al-Tamimi also criticised the timing and purpose of the operation, suggesting that Netanyahu was using the military response to strengthen his election prospects. This was his personal assessment, rather than an established finding about the government's motives.

DEMOLITIONS AND WARNINGS FROM ISRAELI LEADERS

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also oversees certain civilian affairs in the West Bank through the Defence Ministry, said he had ordered the immediate demolition of a row of structures he described as illegal.
The announcement came amid the wider military response to Friday’s attack. Israeli leaders have warned that those responsible for attacks against Israeli forces will face severe consequences.
However, the demolitions and restrictions on movement add to the concerns facing Palestinian communities already affected by military raids, displacement and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

ELECTION PRESSURE AND THE WIDER CONFLICT

Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, but his reputation for ensuring national security suffered a major blow after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which more than 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli figures.
The attack triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction. The figures cited in the original report put the Palestinian death toll at more than 73,000.
The latest violence near Hebron therefore comes against the background of a prolonged conflict, heightened security concerns and deep political divisions inside Israel.
With the election approaching, the government is under pressure to demonstrate that it can protect Israeli citizens. At the same time, the military measures are affecting Palestinian civilians who face movement restrictions and displacement.

WHAT THE CLOSURES MEAN FOR WEST BANK RESIDENTS

The crossing closures could prevent Palestinian workers from reaching their jobs and interrupt the movement of people who rely on access between the West Bank and Israel. For families already displaced by military operations, further restrictions could make it harder to obtain supplies, reach services or return home.
The immediate situation will depend on how long the military operation continues and when authorities allow displaced residents to return.
The coming days will also test how Israel balances election security with the impact of its military measures on Palestinian civilians, as tensions remain high following the deadly attack near Hebron.