Israel Imposes West Bank Lockdown for Sukkot Holiday, Restricting Palestinian Workers

The Israeli military will enforce a comprehensive closure on the West Bank starting Sunday, restricting Palestinian laborers from entering Israeli settlements during the Sukkot holiday, according to instructions from Defense Minister Israel Katz. The decision, based on military recommendations, will allow essential workers access to industrial zones in the West Bank under specific security directives from the Central Command. No exceptional permits will be approved, except for those mandated by state obligations to the Supreme Court.

Separately, the administration of the Temple Mount reported that approximately one thousand Jews had ascended the site to pray for Sukkot, including Knesset members Amit Halevi and Itzhak Kroizer, along with rabbis and heads of religious institutions.

Last week saw a dispute between the Israeli military and police regarding a tunnel discovered in Qalqilya. The military denied police claims of a tunnel, stating that after inspecting wells, no tunnel path was found, nor was any well close to the seam zone. However, forces did find two 12-meter deep wells, seizing an M-16 rifle, a hunting rifle, a handgun, and ammunition nearby. Four suspects involved in hostile activities were arrested and transferred for investigation.

The police countered that a court extended the detention of two Israeli citizens arrested during the operation, asserting that a tunnel equipped with surveillance cameras, weapons, and other items was uncovered. They added that other detainees would face a military court. The police stated the Qalqilya operation began with intelligence indicating the presence of weapons. During the raid, police and border guards arrested four suspects. The police described the tunnel entrance as covered with burlap and noted the discovery of a bag of potassium nitrate, a substance used in explosives.