Israel has closed the Allenby Bridge, the only official border crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, following a deadly shooting incident that left two Israeli soldiers dead and the alleged attacker, a Jordanian aid truck driver, fatally shot by Israeli forces.
The Israeli Airports Authority, which manages the crossing, announced the closure “until further notice” on Friday, citing security concerns. Additional border points were also affected: the Jordan River crossing in the north was shut down, while the Rabin crossing in the south remains partially open, limited to Palestinian laborers with valid permits.
The Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is a vital transit artery—facilitating the majority of goods traded between Jordan and the West Bank, and serving as the only international travel outlet for more than 3 million Palestinians living in the occupied territory.
Thursday’s attack—not yet claimed by any group—has disrupted this essential route and thrown into question the stability of regional logistics and humanitarian flows. Aid organizations have warned that prolonged closures could hamper access to medical supplies and critical food shipments.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions across the region, with Israeli forces on alert for further escalations. Officials have not released additional details about the assailant, but preliminary reports suggest he was a licensed commercial driver working with an aid agency.
“This was a targeted act of violence at one of the most sensitive and essential crossings in the region,” an Israeli defense official told local media. “The implications for both security and diplomacy are significant.”
The closure may strain already delicate ties between Israel and Jordan, which share a decades-old peace treaty but often find themselves at odds over Palestinian affairs and Jerusalem’s holy sites. Jordan has yet to issue a formal response to the incident.
The Israeli government has not indicated when the crossing might reopen, but officials said a comprehensive security review is underway.
