Israeli army soldiers amidst the rubble along a road destroyed in a raid on the Palestinian refugee camp of Tulkarem, in the occupied West Bank, on June 11, 2025. (Credit: Zain Jaafar/AFP)
BEIRUT — The Israeli army announced Friday a total blockade on all Palestinian cities in the West Bank "until further notice," according to information from independent media "Drop Site News" and the Israeli daily "Israel Hayom." According to the latter, the launch of this siege operation was in response to a "security assessment," adding that "it's the first time since Oct. 7 that such a decision has been announced."
The Israeli army has also heightened its alert levels along all of its borders. In the north, at the border with Lebanon, "troops are mobilized to defend or attack if necessary," reported the Times of Israel.
The Israeli army announced at the end of May a major expansion plan for settlements in the occupied West Bank, a plan described as a "step in the wrong direction" by the United Nations Secretary-General. Israeli settlements are regularly condemned by the U.N. as illegal under international law. Earlier this week, the Israeli army launched a military operation in the city of Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank, according to information from AFP journalists in the region.