Israel seals off occupied West Bank and Gaza ahead of Jewish New Year

The Israeli occupation on Friday, 15 September, sealed off the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip in preparation for the Jewish New Year, justifying the measure as a security measure against  Palestinian attacks. 

The Palestinian Civil Affairs (PCA) said in a press statement, "The Israeli authorities informed us that they will seal off the West Bank and close the Erez border, which passengers and the commercial crossing of Kerem Shalom use."

The closure will last until Sunday morning, according to the PCA. 

"During the closure, the passage will be allowed only in humanitarian, medical, and exceptional cases," the Israeli army claimed in a press statement. The Israeli army further claimed the closure was a "preventive measure." 

For their part, Palestinian officials condemned what they described as "illegal Israeli measures" and "a new crime to be added to the occupation's list of crimes."

Palestinian foreign affairs ministry denounced the "illegal Israeli closure," saying in a press statement, "Israel insists on imposing its colonial rules on the Palestinians to double their daily suffering by preventing them from freedom of movement.

To avoid more losses, Palestinian workers in Gaza were forced to sleep at their workplaces inside the Israeli cities, according to workers' families.