Israel To Close West Bank Crossings Following Deadly Checkpoint Attack

The Israeli military announced Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, that it will close all land border crossings with the occupied West Bank throughout election day on Tuesday. The decision followed a Friday shooting attack at a checkpoint near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers.

The military identified the soldiers killed in the attack as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers were wounded, and return fire killed both Palestinian gunmen. Authorities said they found weapons in the attackers' car, adding that the suspects were likely traveling to attack civilians.

The military introduced staged restrictions on Sunday, barring Palestinian workers from entering Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley. The policy expands to a complete ban covering all industrial zones and border checkpoints on election day. An official military statement said the political leadership approved the measures to protect public security.

Troops sealed all entrances and exits to Hebron and ordered night evacuations in neighborhoods such as Deir Bahha via loudspeakers. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said military operations displaced approximately 2,000 Palestinian residents.

The Hebron municipality reported higher figures, stating that between 2,200 and over 2,600 residents were displaced, including up to 300 children. Katz stated that displaced residents cannot return until the military finishes dismantling all Hamas infrastructure in the city.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he ordered the demolition of illegal structures in the area. Forces raided more than 400 sites across roughly 40 areas over the weekend, arresting about 40 suspects linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was planning an operation on a scale not seen in the West Bank since the 1967 war. He told television station i24 to expect a major surprise for the Palestinian Authority. Hamas praised the attack as justified without claiming direct organizational responsibility.

The Palestinian Authority called for urgent international intervention to protect civilians from collective punishment. Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari said the closure brought municipal life and business to a standstill. He asserted that the campaign was politically motivated to rally right-wing voters before the election.

The election on Tuesday is widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv over the weekend demanding accountability for security failures since October 2023. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah reported that 112 Palestinians and six Israelis died in West Bank violence in 2026 before this incident.

The full crossing closures and worker movement bans remain scheduled through Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Military officials confirmed that raids, blockades, and structure demolitions in Hebron will continue for several days. Crossings and work access will undergo security evaluations after election day before any gradual reopening.