RAMALLAH, January 23, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities prevented an international delegation of education unions, representing 15 countries, from entering Palestine via the al-Karama/King Hussein Bridge border crossing on Friday. 

The delegation was detained for several hours and then sent back, in a move seen as an attempt to restrict international solidarity with the Palestinian people and its institutions.

The delegation, invited by the General Union of Palestinian Teachers, was scheduled to take part in a series of activities supporting Palestinian education. These included a workshop on Palestinian curricula in response to Israeli incitement campaigns, and participation in a solidarity summit for Palestinian education set to take place on Saturday in Ramallah. 

The delegation was also expected to be received at the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Friday.

Ramallah Governor Leila Ghanem condemned the move, saying it reflects the occupation’s terrorism and its control over crossings, using them as a tool to isolate the Palestinian people and prevent any form of international solidarity. 

She added that the governorate had been preparing to welcome the delegation in partnership with the General Union of Palestinian Teachers and the Ministry of Education, as a message affirming the central role of education in the battle for awareness and resilience.

M.N