Israel to 'lock up' Palestinians for Jewish holiday

The Israeli army will close crossing points from the Palestinian territories for 11 days during the upcoming Jewish festival of Sukkot.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Israeli army.

The closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a measure frequently taken for major Jewish holidays, would run from midnight in Israeli local time on Tuesday, with only emergency cases allowed through, the army said.

The annual Sukkot festival - which lasts one week - commemorates the Jewish journey through the Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. 

The holiday will see thousands of worshippers head to the Wailing Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem - one of the holiest sites for Jews - to pray.

The location is close to Islam's third holiest site - the al-Aqsa Mosque compound - known to the Jews the Temple Mount.​

In August, more than 1,000 Israelis visited the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday to mark the Tisha B'av Jewish holiday, days after violence shook the city following tensions at the site.