West Bank crossings to shut as Israel enforces Hebron lockdown ahead of vote

Israel announced it will shut all border checkpoints connecting to the occupied West Bank on Tuesday to coincide with its national election.

According to a military statement, authorities are barring Palestinian laborers from accessing most areas in the West Bank across Sunday and Monday before enforcing a total shutdown of all crossing points during polling day.

The closure follows intense security actions in Hebron, where Israeli troops enforced a lockdown and displaced thousands of Palestinian residents. The measures were triggered by a Friday assault on a military reserve installation in the city, where two Palestinian attackers fatally shot two Israeli soldiers before being killed themselves.

Following the deadly incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed forces to implement a sweeping lockdown across the territory. Defence Minister Israel Katz told the public broadcaster Kan that around 2,000 residents had been removed from their homes, stating they would not be permitted to go back until operations targeting Hamas in Hebron are concluded.

Local officials described severe restrictions on movement. Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Ja’bari stated that the municipality and multiple adjacent villages are enduring a total blockade, noting that roughly 2,200 individuals were uprooted by armed incursions and forced ejections.

Residents reported that troops used loudspeakers late at night to deliver evacuation instructions, offering little time to gather belongings or find alternative shelter. The Palestinian Authority condemned the military moves as collective punishment, pointing to the destruction of residential buildings, forced evictions, and comprehensive closures enforced on population centers.

The area is the most heavily populated sector of the West Bank, encompassing approximately 200,000 residents within Hebron itself and another 600,000 across the broader governorate.

While armed forces indicated the current campaign would span several days, Netanyahu signaled that broader military moves may follow, claiming preparations are underway for an intervention of an intensity unseen since the 1967 occupation. The escalation comes as Netanyahu navigates a competitive general election, with observers noting his emphasis on defense measures and regional conflict to bolster support ahead of the vote.