The permits were initially issued to Palestinians from the Israeli-occupied West Bank to visit relatives during the holy month of Ramadan, now underway.
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A spokeswoman for the Israeli military said on Friday that the ban would remain in force until midnight Sunday. On Friday Israeli authorities restricted entry to Jerusalem to Palestinian men over 45, while all Palestinian women were allowed to cross.
In addition to the closure of Yatta, the military has also announced that it is revoked all permits for Palestinians from the West Bank wishing to cross the green line in order to visit family, prisoners, or pray at al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan – approximately 83,000 permits in total will be revoked.
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a Tel Aviv cafe on Wednesday night, killing four Israelis and wounding five others.
It also reported violent clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces as the latter raided the Jerusalem town of Abu Dis.
Barring Palestinians from entering Israel will hurt, rather than help, Israel’s security, France’s foreign minister said.
Israel’s cancellation of entry permits for Palestinians following a deadly attack in Tel Aviv may amount to collective punishment, which is banned under global law, according to the office of the UN’s top human rights official.
In addition, Reuters reports, Israel suspended 204 work permits held by individuals in the extended families of the alleged attackers, and Israeli security forces sealed off their entire hometown of Yatta.
Hundreds more troops will also be sent to the West Bank.
In a further step likely to raise tensions, newly appointed far-right Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered that the return of the bodies of Palestinians killed in the violence to their relatives be halted.
The policy is backed by Israeli hawks as a deterrent measure.
Israel’s heavily militarised border crossings were previously closed for two days in May during Remembrance Day and Independence Day commemorations and the measure is frequently imposed over Jewish holidays.
The start of April’s Passover festival involved this type of shutdown.
“Thousands of police will be in and around the Old City of Jerusalem carrying out security measures”, an Israeli police statement said.
At least 207 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed since October.
The decision to revoke the Palestinians’ permits on Thursday came in response to one of the deadliest attacks carried out by Palestinians in recent months.
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MEE contacted an Israeli security forces spokesperson on Friday for a response to Reynolds’ comments but had not received any by the time of publication.
