The occupation announced on Saturday the closure of all crossings into the West Bank and Gaza, including the Rafah border with Egypt, effective from Sunday until further notice. Only Palestinians holding “vital worker” permits are exempt. Authorities claimed humanitarian conditions in Gaza would remain unaffected, though the redeployment of aid teams has been postponed. Pro Palestine activists see the move as collective punishment, further isolating thousands of displaced and vulnerable residents.

Rafah, Gaza’s only link to the outside world via Egypt, had reopened on 2 February after nearly two years under occupation control following the war of annihilation. The closure threatens access to essential services and humanitarian aid for families already enduring displacement and deprivation. Rocket debris and explosions were reported across the West Bank on Saturday after sirens sounded in settlements controlled by the occupation, though no casualties were recorded.

The measures come as the occupation and the United States launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to promise a “severe response” and strike back with missiles and drones targeting occupation and American positions. From a Palestinian perspective, these developments heighten the vulnerability of civilians and reinforce the ongoing impact of occupation policies on life in Gaza and the West Bank.