Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday a blanket closure of the West Bank and the crossings into the Gaza Strip, coinciding with the anniversary of the events of 7 October, saying the decision was taken on the basis of army recommendations and security assessments.
West Bank and Gaza crossings closed during October anniversary
Katz ordered a general closure of the West Bank and the closure of Bethlehem crossings from 5 to 7 October, based on a security assessment, according to a Jerusalem Post reporter. Under the instructions, exceptions to crossing would be granted only in exceptional cases requiring prior approval from the relevant authorities, while medical crews and essential health-sector workers would be allowed to pass.
At the same time, the Palestine Red Crescent Society announced the death of a young Palestinian man after he was detained by Israeli forces at the Anab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. The society said its crews treated the man while he was in critical condition before later announcing his death. It added that ambulance crews remained waiting for Israeli forces to allow them to transfer the man's body to hospital.
The incident came as the forces continued tightening measures at military checkpoints across the West Bank, including searches and the detention of Palestinians. Around Ramallah and al-Bireh, Israeli forces tightened their military measures on Sunday morning and closed several roads and entrances, according to the Palestinian News Agency, citing local sources.
The closures included the iron gate at the entrances to Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah, and Atara, as well as the closure of the al-Muhallal area near Nilin. The forces also set up checkpoints at the entrances to the towns of Aboud, Ain Siniya, Yabrud and Sinjil, checking residents' identity cards and causing severe traffic congestion.
Arrest campaign targets 15 Palestinians
Alongside the movement restrictions, Israeli forces carried out raids and arrests in several parts of the West Bank early on Sunday. The Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office said the campaign resulted in the arrest of 15 Palestinians, including a male and a female journalist. The office said the forces arrested journalist Sami al-Shami after raiding his home in the village of Asira al-Qibliya, south of Nablus governorate in the northern West Bank.
In the same village, six young Palestinian men were arrested after their homes were raided, while the forces also arrested another young man in Nablus's old city. In Jenin governorate, Israeli forces arrested journalist Raja Jabr, a member of the administrative council of the Journalists' Syndicate, at her home in the town of Arraba, south of the governorate. The arrests also included two young Palestinian men from the town of Kafr Dan, west of Jenin, as well as a young man from Jenin city.
The forces also arrested a young Palestinian man after raiding his home in the town of Attil, north of Tulkarm. In Hebron governorate, Israeli forces raided the town of Beit Ummar, north of the governorate, and arrested a Palestinian man and his son after raiding their home. The military operations coincided with attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property.
Land levelling and attacks during olive harvest season
In the village of Umm Safa, north-west of Ramallah, bulldozers belonging to settlers began levelling agricultural land in the northern area to expand an outpost established in 2024 in the Jabal al-Ras area. The village has faced repeated attacks that have limited residents' ability to reach their land and caused extensive property damage.
Settlers had seized hundreds of dunams in the southern part of Umm Safa while constructing roads several months ago. In Nablus governorate, settlers attacked a Palestinian farmer while he was picking olives in the Mahfuriya area of the town of Aqraba, south of the governorate. The attackers beat him and stole his olive harvest and the equipment he had with him.
The attacks come during the olive-picking season, amid fears that Palestinian farmers will lose their crops and be unable to reach their land safely, as settler attacks escalate under the protection of the Israeli army.
