Israel to close all West Bank crossings on election day

The Israeli military announced on Sunday (October 25) that starting from that day, Palestinians will not be allowed to enter Israeli communities in the West Bank to work; all land ports will be closed all day on next Tuesday’s election day, and Palestinian workers will be prohibited from entering and leaving the entire West Bank area. Israel will hold parliamentary elections next Tuesday (October 27).

On Friday, Palestinian militants launched an attack near the city of Hebron, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding three others. Two attack suspects were shot dead. The Israeli military subsequently launched military operations in the West Bank. Palestinian militant group Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility. The Israeli army said it had "arrested approximately 40 suspects, including terrorists affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad."

Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Jabari told Al Jazeera that some 2,200 people have been displaced since the Israeli raid on Friday. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the figure. In an interview with Israel's public broadcaster Kan, he said Palestinians "will not be allowed to return until we completely resolve all Hamas-related issues in Hebron."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the attackers would pay a heavy price and said he was planning to launch the largest operation since Israel first occupied the West Bank in 1967.