Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz decided to impose a comprehensive closure on the West Bank and close crossings into the Gaza Strip on 5 and 7 October 2026, citing security considerations linked to commemorations of the third anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks. Exceptions to the crossing restrictions will be limited to specific groups and cases.
Army recommends closure of West Bank and Gaza crossings
Katz announced on Sunday, 4 October, that he had approved the Israeli army’s recommendation regarding the closure, based on an assessment of the security situation. The measures are scheduled to be implemented on the two specified days, according to Israel’s Channel 14.
The decision stipulates that crossing exemptions in the West Bank will be permitted only in specific cases, including the passage of essential healthcare workers, cases linked to commitments Israel made before the Supreme Court, and needs relating to the contact area.
All exemptions will require approval from the relevant Israeli authorities, following a separate assessment of each case. The decision follows a general closure imposed by Israel on the West Bank in late September during the Sukkot holiday, based on an army recommendation and security assessments.
Decision linked to anniversary of October attacks
The new measures come ahead of the third anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks, which began at dawn that day with a wide-scale assault launched by Hamas and Palestinian factions from the Gaza Strip. The assault targeted Israeli towns and military sites and coincided with the launch of thousands of rockets.
The day after the attack, Israel declared war and began a wide-scale military campaign in the Gaza Strip involving air strikes and ground and naval operations. The Israeli authorities also imposed a blockade on the strip, including halting electricity, water and fuel supplies and preventing the entry of goods. The fighting led to widespread destruction and mass displacement among Gaza Strip residents, according to United Nations reports.
Death and injury toll since the start of the war
Gaza’s Ministry of Health said in its latest toll, issued on 3 October, that the number of Palestinian deaths since the start of the war had risen to 74,228, while the number of injured reached 175,188, according to the Palestinian News Agency. The ministry’s tally includes 1,445 deaths since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025.
These figures remain attributed to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, amid the continuing effects of the war on the population and the strip. The closure decision also comes as Israel’s elections scheduled for 27 October 2026 approach, to elect members of the 26th Knesset. They will be Israel’s first general elections since the 7 October 2023 attack.
The 25th Knesset was dissolved in July 2026, paving the way for the new elections. The announced security measures come about three weeks before the vote, in addition to being directly linked to the anniversary of the attack.
Since October 2023, the effects of the war have extended to the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, alongside continuing international diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the fighting and reaching arrangements concerning the Gaza Strip and the hostages.
