Israel, PT: Authorities extend closure of West Bank and Gaza Strip border crossings until May 8 following deadly Elad attack /update 1

Event

Israeli authorities have extended the country's existing closures of West Bank and Gaza Strip border crossings until at least May 8. The measures, which were implemented ahead of Memorial Day and Independence Day to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel, were initially slated to expire overnight May 5-6. The extension of the border closures comes after two suspected militants killed at least three people and wounded four others in an attack in Elad late May 5.

A heightened Israeli security presence is likely at border crossings between Israel and the Palestinian Territories over the coming days. Authorities will also likely maintain increased security measures along the Green Line (the 1967 border with the West Bank). Exceptions to the border closures will probably be made on an ad hoc basis for urgent medical cases or other humanitarian needs.

Israeli authorities may further extend the border closures or implement additional restrictions on Palestinian movement in response to security developments over the short term.

Context

A recent series of attacks has killed at least 18 Israelis since March 22, prompting Israeli security forces to launch frequent operations in the West Bank. Israeli security forces have killed more than two dozen Palestinians in recent weeks; most of those killed were involved in attacks on or clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

This most recent bout of Israeli-Palestinian violence started and escalated against the backdrop of a rare confluence of religious observances in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Muslim month of Ramadan started April 2, while the weeklong Jewish period of Passover began April 15. The elevated tensions have since extended beyond these religious observances, risking a broader escalation of the decades-old conflict to levels not witnessed since the May 2021 cross-border conflagration between Israeli forces and Gaza-based militants.

Advice

Seek updated information on security conditions and movement restrictions in the Palestinian Territories before traveling. Ensure all travel and vehicle documents are in order. Heed the advice of authorities, including officers at security checkpoints. Avoid loitering near security checkpoints and do not attempt to bypass them; even an accidental breach of the security cordon near a checkpoint may prompt Israeli security forces to respond aggressively.