Israel's military said it will close all land crossings between the West Bank and Israel on Tuesday, the day of the scheduled Knesset election, and will impose a sweeping lockdown on the occupied territory. At the same time, Israeli troops razed a residential neighbourhood in Hebron, forcing the evacuation of between 1,200 and 2,200 residents, according to local and international reports.
Crossings shut on election day
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that, beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, no Palestinian workers will be permitted to cross into Israel, and all vehicular traffic through the main West Bank checkpoints will be halted. The restriction also bars Palestinian residents from entering Israeli settlements until after the polls close. The decision was reported by the BBC, The Hindu, CGTN, and other outlets, which all echoed the IDF's statement that the move is intended to “ensure security and public order” on election day.
Hebron neighbourhood razed
Following a deadly attack on an Israeli army checkpoint in Hebron that killed two soldiers, the IDF launched a large‑scale operation in the city. Soldiers used bulldozers and explosives to level homes in the Al‑Jamaa neighbourhood, an act described by the Guardian as “razing a neighbourhood and driving out hundreds of families.” The exact number of displaced people varies: WCIV cited “up to 2,200,” while AOL reported “around 1,200.”
“We will destroy this place,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters, vowing a “big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority, the Guardian reported.
The demolition has been labelled by some human‑rights groups as an act of ethnic cleansing. The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on the U.S. government to intervene, warning that the operation could turn the West Bank into “another Gaza.”
Political backdrop and tensions
The closure and the Hebron operation come as Israel heads to a “pivotal” election that could reshape the country's right‑wing coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces challenges from defence minister Gadi Eisenkot and other rivals, each promising a tougher stance on Hamas while also courting moderate voters. According to Al Jazeera, both camps are waging a digital battle using bots and deep‑fakes to influence public opinion.
Mass rallies against Netanyahu were reported in Tel Aviv and other cities, with thousands of Israelis taking to the streets in the days before the vote. At the same time, Palestinian leaders warned that the election could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories, which they say is already being used as “campaign fodder” by Israeli politicians.
Analysts noted that a new Israeli government, regardless of its composition, is unlikely to end the occupation, but a less hard‑line coalition could reduce the frequency of large‑scale military operations in the West Bank. Al Jazeera cautioned that “who Israel elects matters, and not just for Israelis,” emphasizing the regional implications of the outcome.
For Palestinians who rely on daily travel for work, education, and medical care, the shutdown of all West Bank crossings represents a severe disruption. The Israeli Ministry of Defense said the restrictions will be lifted after the election, but no timeline has been provided for the restoration of normal movement for the displaced Hebron residents.
International observers have called for restraint, noting that the combination of a nationwide lockdown and a large‑scale demolition could inflame already volatile tensions ahead of the vote. The situation remains fluid, with both Israeli officials and Palestinian leaders preparing for the political and security fallout of the upcoming election.
