Region | Palestinian Territories
West Bank, Gaza crossings closed for weeklong holiday
Palestinians are banned from entering Israel as troops close West Bank and Gaza for Jewish holiday.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:54 April 18, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Italian peace activists walk past the separation barrier during a marathon for peace that will end in Occupied Jerusalem on Friday.
Occupied Jerusalem: Palestinians will be banned from entering Israel starting on Friday after Israel closed off the West Bank and Gaza for the Jewish Passover holiday.
The closure takes effect until the end of the holiday on April 26. Only humanitarian cases, doctors and lawyers will be allowed entry, the government said in a statement.
"The [military] regards the holiday period as a highly sensitive time, security wise," the statement said.
The military said it will preserve “to the best of its ability, the daily life of the Palestinian population'' and promised to continue transferring vital goods through the Gaza crossing.
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