Israel closes key West Bank-Jordan crossing after deadly attack on soldiers

Israel has closed the Allenby Bridge crossing — the sole passageway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan — following a deadly shooting on September 18 in which two Israeli soldiers were killed by a gunman reportedly driving a humanitarian aid truck from Jordan.

The Israeli Airports Authority, which manages the crossing, announced that the bridge would be closed “until further notice,” Al Arabiya reports.

The Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is a critical artery for Palestinians in the West Bank, serving as their only exit point to Jordan and, by extension, the broader international community.

In the wake of the attack, Israel also imposed restrictions on its two other border crossings with Jordan. The Jordan River crossing in the north has been completely shut down, while the Rabin crossing in the south remains open, but solely for the transit of workers.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. The assailant, according to preliminary Israeli reports, was driving a vehicle delivering humanitarian aid intended for Gaza — a detail that has raised concerns over the security of aid channels and the potential exploitation of humanitarian corridors for militant purposes.

The Allenby Bridge has long been a geopolitical flashpoint due to its strategic and symbolic significance. Beyond its economic role in facilitating trade between Jordan and Israel, it also represents the only route available to more than 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank seeking to travel abroad.

By Vafa Guliyeva