Israel will block Palestinian workers from using West Bank crossings on October 27, 2026.
Why it matters: The restrictions could interrupt Palestinian access to jobs and wages and disrupt Israeli employers that rely on Palestinian labor. They also add movement controls during an Israeli military operation centered on Hebron.
- On Tuesday, October 27, Palestinian workers will be barred from using all land crossings between Israel and the West Bank and Jordan Valley, including industrial zones.
- On Sunday, October 25, and Monday, October 26, most Palestinian workers with permits will be barred from entering Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jordan Valley.
- The restrictions follow an October 23 shooting near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three, according to the Associated Press.
- The IDF said it operated in more than 400 locations and arrested 40 Palestinians it described as affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The Israel Defense Forces said Palestinian workers would be barred from using crossings between Israel and the West Bank and Jordan Valley on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The order includes all land crossings between Israel and the West Bank, as well as industrial zones. It does not establish a blanket closure affecting everyone moving within or out of the West Bank.
Separately, most Palestinian workers with permits will be prevented from entering Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jordan Valley on Sunday, October 25, and Monday, October 26, the Associated Press reported. The available reporting does not specify individual crossing exceptions or humanitarian exemptions.
The restrictions follow a shooting near Hebron on October 23, 2026, that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three, according to the AP. Israel has imposed a lockdown on Hebron and conducted raids, arrests and searches in the city and surrounding areas.
The IDF said it operated in more than 400 locations and arrested 40 Palestinians whom it described as affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The available reporting does not independently verify those affiliations, and arrests do not establish convictions.
The October 27 closure coincides with Israel's national election and a national holiday, according to AP reporting.
By the numbers
- 400+ - locations where the IDF said it operated
- 40 - Palestinians the IDF said it arrested
- 2 killed, 3 wounded - Israeli soldiers affected by the October 23 shooting near Hebron
Yes, but: The available reporting does not specify individual crossing exceptions or humanitarian exemptions, so the precise operational scope for particular workers remains unclear.
What's next: Restrictions on most permit holders are scheduled for October 25 and 26, followed by the worker closure at Israel-West Bank and Jordan Valley crossings on October 27, Israel's election day and a national holiday.