The IDF says it's sealing the West Bank and Gaza during the Jewish Passover holiday. The closure takes effect at midnight Thursday and bars Palestinians from entering Israel. Passover begins at sundown Saturday and lasts a week. Passover commemorates the exodus of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Israel routinely seals the Palestinian territories during Jewish holidays. The closure largely affects the West Bank, since Gaza has been virtually sealed by Israel and Egypt since the violent Hamas takeover there last June.