On September 8, Israel took the drastic measure of closing all three of its land border crossings with Jordan following a violent incident at the Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge. This border crossing, which connects the occupied West Bank with Jordan, was the scene of a tragic attack where a gunman crossing from Jordan killed three Israeli civilians before being shot and killed by Israeli security forces.
The attack occurred in a commercial cargo area controlled by Israel where Jordanian trucks offload goods entering the West Bank. The incident represents the first such attack along the Jordan-Israel border since the Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, which ignited the ongoing and intense conflict in Gaza. The Allenby Bridge, situated approximately midway between Amman and Jerusalem just north of the Dead Sea, is a critical point of transit for both people and goods between Jordan and the West Bank.
According to the Israeli military, the assailant, who arrived in a truck, exited the vehicle and opened fire on Israeli security personnel stationed at the bridge. The security forces responded promptly, neutralizing the attacker, but not before the three Israeli civilians lost their lives.Â
In response to the attack, the Israel Airports Authority, which manages the border crossings, announced the closure of all land routes between Israel and Jordan. This decision has significant repercussions for the daily flow of goods and trade, as dozens of trucks transporting goods from Jordan and the Gulf pass through these crossings to supply both the West Bank and Israeli markets.
A Jordanian border official confirmed that at least two dozen Jordanian truck drivers present in the offloading area at the time of the attack have been detained by Israeli authorities for interrogation. The closure and subsequent security measures reflect heightened tensions and concerns about further incidents.
Israel and Jordan have maintained a peace treaty since 1994 and have established close security cooperation. The closures and heightened security measures underscore the sensitive nature of their relationship and the critical importance of maintaining stability in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, calling it an act of "loathsome terrorism" that claimed the lives of innocent civilians. In contrast, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, hailed the attack as a justified response to Israel's military actions in Gaza, suggesting that more such actions might follow. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the recent violence at the border continues to escalate tensions in an already volatile region.
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