Israel Closes West Bank Crossings for a Week, Intensifies Movement Restrictions

What happened

Al Jazeera Gaza reports that Israel has closed crossings in the occupied West Bank for a week starting Sunday, following a military recommendation cited by Defence Minister Israel Katz. The closure will last until Saturday, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, further restricting Palestinians' movement.

Prior to this closure, the West Bank already contained over 300 Israeli checkpoints and barriers, severely limiting movement for Palestinians, including access to key religious sites such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. The closure includes barring most Palestinians holding permits to work inside Israel and its settlements, a workforce that was sharply reduced after the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The closure affects multiple West Bank areas, with roads blocked and entrances shut in Ramallah and el-Bireh governorates, and new checkpoints established in towns including Yabroud, Ein Siniya, and Jaba. Palestinian workers deemed essential remain allowed into certain industrial zones within the West Bank.

Known from the source

• Israel has closed West Bank crossings for a week starting Sunday, ordered by Defence Minister Israel Katz on military advice.
• The closure restricts Palestinian movement, including access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Ibrahimi Mosque.
• There are over 300 Israeli checkpoints across the West Bank, including 218 partial checkpoints, 232 road gates, and 114 linear closures.
• Before recent restrictions, about 160,000 Palestinians worked in Israel and settlements; this number fell to about 27,300 by mid-2024.
• West Bank unemployment rose from 12.9% in September 2023 to 30.7% in September 2024.

What remains unclear

Before the war on Gaza, approximately 160,000 Palestinians worked in Israel and settlements; that number dropped to about 27,300 by mid-2024 following restrictions. Unemployment in the West Bank increased from 12.9% to 30.7% in the year leading to September 2024. These restrictions deepen economic hardship and limit access to vital services and religious sites.

What remains unclear: Verify any updates on the duration or terms of the West Bank closure beyond the stated week period. Confirm whether any new developments have altered the number or status of checkpoints since the report. Check for any current ceasefire talks or aid access developments affecting movement restrictions. Ensure casualty figures or hostages claims (if added later) are clearly attributed and verified before insertion.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has treated the source material as confirmed within the supplied source context, while retaining attribution to the original publisher.

Original source: Al Jazeera Gaza. Open the source.