TEL-AVIV (Sputnik) – Closing borders for the Palestinians before Jewish holidays is a common practice of the Israeli authorities. However, the most recent IDF announcement comes following the Wednesday's shooting in Tel Aviv, when two Palestinian gunmen from the Hebron area opened fire near the Sarona market, killing four people.
"In accordance with the government’s instructions and basing on the ongoing assessments of the operational situation, since today checkpoints on borders with the Gaza Strip and Samaria and Judea [Israeli acronym for the West Bank] will be opened for the Palestinians only for medical and humanitarian purposes," the spokesperson said.
"The checkpoints will also be opened for the Palestinians on Friday for participation in prayers on the Temple Mount," the spokesperson said, explaining the decision with security concerns ahead of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
In response to the Wednesday's attack, the Israeli authorities have revoked 83,000 permits for Palestinians to visit Israel and travel abroad during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and announced deploying two more battalions in the West Bank.
