Palestinians stranded after sudden Israeli closure of sole West Bank crossing

Thousands of Palestinians were left stranded this week after Israeli authorities abruptly closed the only crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, causing widespread confusion and hardship.

The closure of the Allenby Bridge crossing - known to Palestinians as the Karama crossing - began on Wednesday without explanation, following orders from Israeli political leadership, according to Israel’s Airports Authority, which manages the crossing.

On Thursday, Palestinian officials announced that the crossing would reopen on Friday, though Israel has yet to comment publicly on the decision.

The unexpected shutdown left scores of Palestinian families stuck on the Jordanian side of the border, many facing harsh and deteriorating conditions.

“I witnessed elderly people struggling, children crying, and many families stuck there for hours,” said Hisham Abu Shaqra, a Palestinian videographer returning home from a training course abroad.

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