Israel Imposes Week-Long Closure on West Bank Amid Jewish Holidays

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a comprehensive closure of the West Bank for one week, from Sunday, September 27, to Saturday, October 3, 2026. The measure, which includes closing crossings and barring Palestinian laborers from entering Israel, is a response to security assessments amid the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, a period Israeli security forces deem "tense." The closure will be lifted on Sunday, October 4, contingent upon a security evaluation.

During the Sukkot holiday, Palestinian workers will be prohibited from entering Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Exceptions will be made for workers deemed "essential" in specific industrial zones, who may enter under security directives from the IDF's Central Command. The directive also suspends the issuance of exceptional permits, except for those already committed by the Israeli government before the Supreme Court.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed the timeline, stating that crossings will be closed except for humanitarian, medical, and exceptional cases requiring prior approval. The decision follows recent operations and comes amid heightened Israeli restrictions already in place across the West Bank, including military checkpoints and roadblocks that impede Palestinian movement and access to work and services.

The intensified measures coincide with ongoing settler violence. On Saturday evening, settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles between Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah villages, damaging one vehicle. Settlers also gathered at the entrance to Al-Mughayyir, grazing livestock among Palestinian homes, while Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at residents attempting to confront them.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the West Bank has seen a surge in attacks by the Israeli military and settlers, including killings, arrests, home demolitions, land razing, displacement, and settlement expansion. Palestinian data indicates that these actions have resulted in the deaths of 1,206 Palestinians, including 254 children, and approximately 13,350 injuries.