Closure on Judea and Samaria to continue through weekend

In a statement, the IDF said: "The search for the security prisoners who escaped the Gilboa Prison is ongoing. It has been decided to extend the general closure of Judea and Samaria, in accordance with the security assessment and the efforts to locate the escaped prisoners."

The statement added that the closure would continue until midnight on Sunday morning, subject to further assessments. However, the commercial crossings in Gaza and in Judea and Samaria will be opened as planned on midnight Thursday morning, September 9.

"In addition, passage will be allowed to employees who work in Judea and Samaria, as well as for humanitarian, medical and unusual cases, subject to approval by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)," the statement added.

"At the end of the situational assessments by the IDF Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, during the holiday it was decided to reinforce IDF forces in Judea and Samaria with battalions of soldiers, aircraft, and other forces, as part of the efforts to capture the prisoners and foil terror incidents in the area."