Israel Imposes West Bank Access Ban Ahead of National Election

The Israel Defense Forces announced sweeping measures in the occupied West Bank ahead of Tuesday’s national election, including a full closure of land crossings and a ban on Palestinian workers entering settlements. The move follows an attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and intensifies restrictions already in place across the territory.

Under the new orders, Palestinian laborers will be barred from entering settlements throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, with limited exceptions for certain industrial zones and a small number of approved areas. The IDF also stated that all land crossings would be closed for the duration of Tuesday.

Security response and recent operations

The measures come after two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli checkpoint, killing two soldiers and wounding three others before the assailants were killed. In retaliation, Israeli forces launched operations in Hebron that included demolitions of homes and businesses; local officials say the actions have displaced hundreds of families.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reported roughly 2,000 residents displaced by the operation, and footage shared online appears to show significant structural damage to parts of the city. Rights groups have criticised home demolitions in the West Bank as a form of collective punishment, a long-standing international concern.

Movement curbs and labor permits

Even before the new ban on workers took effect, Hebron was heavily cordoned off, with strict limits on the movement of its roughly 200,000 residents. The IDF noted that most workers would already be barred from settlements starting Sunday, with only exceptions for industrial zones and designated areas.

Prior to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers held permits to enter Israel. Since that date, only a fraction of those permits have been restored, leaving many unable to work across the Green Line.

Political context and public reaction

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered what he described as a major operation in response to the checkpoint attack and warned of a “very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority in media interviews released before the election. Critics and Palestinian leaders, including Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari, accused the government of using security measures to influence voters and appeal to the far right and settler constituencies.

At the same time, large protests took place in Tel Aviv just days before the vote. The rally, organised by the October Council — a group representing families of victims and hostages from the October 7 attacks — demanded accountability and a formal state inquiry into the failures that led to the militant assault.

The Tel Aviv demonstration drew leaders from the main opposition parties, including former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who is running a tight race against Netanyahu. Organisers stressed that the gathering marked three years of efforts to uncover the truth and to seek justice for victims.