Israel will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank on October 27, the day of its general election, as part of a broader military operation in Hebron following a deadly attack on Israeli soldiers. The closure is part of a crackdown on militants and a crackdown on Palestinian residents, with over 2,000 displaced in the city.
The move comes a day after Israeli forces imposed a lockdown in Hebron, displacing thousands and demolishing homes, following an attack by Palestinian gunmen that killed two Israeli soldiers. Defence Minister Israel Katz said displaced residents would not be allowed to return until 'all Hamas issues in Hebron' are resolved, signaling a hardline stance on militancy.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned the operation as 'collective punishment', citing forced evictions and home demolitions, while Israeli officials insist the measures are necessary to secure the election and address security concerns. The operation is expected to last several days, with further action potentially planned as part of a broader campaign in the West Bank.