Israel to Impose West Bank Closure, Gaza Crossings Blocked Oct. 5 and 7

Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered a general closure on the West Bank and the closure of Gaza crossings on October 5 and 7, following a recommendation from the IDF and an assessment of the security situation. The decision comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding the three-year commemoration of the October 7th attacks.

Exceptions to the closure in the West Bank will be granted only in exceptional humanitarian or essential cases, and will require approval from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). Movement will be permitted for essential healthcare workers and in cases where the state has commitments to the High Court of Justice (Bagatz) or for needs related to the seam zone.

The closure is a routine security measure during sensitive periods, but the specific dates carry significant symbolic weight. Notably, a nearly identical announcement was made on October 5, 2023, just two days before the Hamas attack, regarding a closure for the Sukkot holiday that was set to last until October 7.

This directive follows a similar broad closure imposed on the West Bank during the recent Sukkot holiday. In late September, Minister Katz, at the IDF's request, ordered a general closure due to high security tensions, which included a ban on most Palestinian workers entering Israeli communities and a significant reinforcement of IDF forces in the area.