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Israel imposes full security closure on occupied Palestinian territories

October 11, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Israel’s army of occupation announced on Monday that it would be imposing a full security closure on the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem during a Jewish holiday on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Times of Israel has reported. Exceptions will be made for medical and “humanitarian cases” approved by the defence ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

The closure will take effect on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. and is expected to last until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m., dependent upon a “situational assessment,” an army statement explained.

During the Yom Kippur holiday, reported Haaretz, cement roadblocks will be erected between West Jerusalem and occupied East Jerusalem. No Arab vehicles will be allowed into West Jerusalem during the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Such a closure is not unusual during Jewish holidays. The Israeli occupation army frequently seals off the occupied Palestinian territories, causing even more disruption for the people of Palestine.

There are many Jewish holidays during October this year. Due to the siege and closure of the Gaza Strip, there is also a severe shortage of fuel that has already caused transportation problems, forcing many factories to close their doors.