The Israeli army announced that all ground crossings between Israel and the West Bank will be closed on Tuesday, October 27, coinciding with the parliamentary elections. This decision is part of security measures taken in response to a deadly attack on Israeli soldiers near the city of Hebron.
Details of Security Measures
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that starting Sunday, Palestinians will not be allowed to enter Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley for work. The forces also clearly stated that the entry and exit of Palestinian workers, as well as all ground crossings, will be suspended on election day.
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This action comes as Israel continues military operations in the West Bank. On Friday, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were injured, leading to a state of emergency in the area. Following this attack, two suspects were also killed.
Social and Political Consequences
Recent attacks by Palestinian groups, including Hamas, have been praised. However, Hamas has not claimed responsibility for this attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised a tough response to this attack. He stated that this attack, occurring just before the parliamentary elections, will have a significant impact on the election results.
In recent days, Israeli forces have conducted operations in 40 areas of the West Bank and arrested nearly 40 suspects, including terrorists affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The mayor of Hebron, Yusuf al-Jabari, announced that about 2,200 residents of the area have been forced to leave their homes.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed these figures and stated that selected military units are currently active in these areas, and Palestinians will not be allowed to return until issues related to Hamas in Hebron are resolved.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also announced that he has ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures in the area. He wrote on social media that anyone who engages with Israel will pay a heavy price.
Hussein Shawar al-Tamimi, a 70-year-old grocer, said he was awakened by soldiers at 1 AM and was told he had to leave the area. He added that it has been much more difficult for other residents to leave this neighborhood.
Netanyahu, recognized as Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has come under pressure following the deadly attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis. This attack marked the beginning of an Israeli invasion of Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 73,000 Palestinians, many of whom were civilians.
After Friday's attack, Netanyahu stated that the responses so far have only been the beginning of a much larger operation that has been unprecedented since the occupation of the West Bank in 1967.
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