Israel to close occupied West Bank crossings as Hebron lockdown continues

Israel has remarked it will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank on the day of its general election next week.

Key points

• Regarding 200, 000 Palestinians live in the city of Hebron, and a further 600, 000 in Hebron governorate, making it the West Bank's most populous area.
• But Netanyahu suggested bigger action was coming, saying he was planning an operation on a scale not seen since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.
• He additionally stated on Saturday that 2, 200 individuals had been forced from their homes by Israeli troops and raids.
• Hebron's Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari informed Al Jazeera that the city of Hebron and a number of neighbouring villages were under a complete blockade.
• The announcement comes a day after Israeli army imposed a lockdown in Hebron and displaced thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

In practice, the Israeli army remarked in an official note early on Sunday that it would bar Palestinian workers from entering most areas of the West Bank from Sunday through Monday, and a full closure of crossings into and out of the territory will be enforced on Tuesday, the day of the Israeli vote.

For context, the announcement comes a day after Israeli army imposed a lockdown in Hebron and displaced thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

It has conducted hundreds of raids since Friday's attack by two Palestinian gunmen on an Israeli army reserve base. It killed two Israeli soldiers. The two Palestinians were additionally killed.

While Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that "about 2, 000" residents had been displaced, israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a "full lockdown" of the occupied West Bank after the attack.

"They will not be allowed to return to their neighbourhood until we've finished dealing with all the Hamas issues in Hebron, " Katz remarked in an interview with public broadcaster Kan.

Notably, the Palestinian Authority. It governs parts of the West Bank, has pressed international pressure on Israel to protect Hebron's residents, who stated soldiers confirmed forced evacuation orders over loudspeakers late at night, leaving them with no time to prepare and few places to go.

Notably, the PA called Israel's actions "collective punishment", citing the demolition of homes, forced displacement of entire neighbourhoods, and the "closure and siege of Palestinian cities".

Regarding 200, 000 Palestinians live in the city of Hebron, and a further 600, 000 in Hebron governorate, making it the West Bank's most populous area. The Israeli military has remarked the operation will last a number of days.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest serving prime minister, is facing a tight race for a new term in Tuesday's vote, and analysts say he is trying to capitalise on ongoing regional military conflicts and national security fears to anchor his re-election campaign.

Taken together, the developments around israel to close occupied West Bank crossings as Hebron lockdown continues point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.