Jerusalem, Israel – A general closure was placed on Judea, Samaria and Gaza due to intelligence assessments of possible plans to carry out terror attacks over the coming Passover holiday. The closure will continue over the course of the entire seven-day Passover holiday.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The IDF issued a statement that checkpoints would remain closed from 12:01 AM Sunday until the end of the holiday. PA Arabs in need of humanitarian aid, as well as those working as doctors, medics, lawyers, NGO workers and others, will be allowed to pass freely after receiving special clearance from the IDF Civil Administration. Other exceptions involve Gaza’s Christian Arabs, who will be allowed into Israel for the Christian holidays, and 1,000 PA Arabs employed by northern region Israeli cucumber and almond farmers.
Israel has been particularly wary of holiday attacks since the 2002 Park Hotel bombing during a large Pesach seder in the seaside town of Netanya. Thirty people were murdered and 140 wounded in the attack, which resulted in the launch of Operation Defensive Shield.