Israel closes Jerusalem’s Shufat checkpoint, obstructs movement of Palestinians

The Israeli army closed a checkpoint that separates the Shufat refugee camp from its environs and Jerusalem city centre without warning, stranding thousands of Palestinians.
1 min read
West Bank
07 December, 2021
Shufat refugee camp is located within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, but is separated from it by a huge eight-metre-high concrete wall and a checkpoint [Getty]

The Israeli army closed a checkpoint separating the Shufat refugee camp from Jerusalem city centre on Tuesday without warning, leaving thousands of Palestinians stranded, sources have said.

Locals said that the closure has curtailed the movement of students to schools outside the walled camp and employees who work in the city.

Palestinian security sources told The New Arab that thousands of people were not able to leave the camp this morning after the army abruptly closed the checkpoint to traffic, causing huge traffic jams.

Shufat refugee camp is located within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem but was separated from it with a huge eight-metre-high concrete wall and a checkpoint in 2004.

It has a population of more than 25,000 people and is administered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The checkpoint restricts the daily life of over 70,000 people living behind the wall.