A shocking incident unfolded on Thursday at a crucial border crossing connecting Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where an assailant, armed with both a gun and a knife, tragically killed two Israeli soldiers. This grim report comes from Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
Eyewitness accounts from two rescue workers at the scene describe the attacker emerging from a truck at the bustling Allenby Bridge border crossing terminal, a place where humanitarian aid vehicles are routinely inspected. The individual initiated the assault by opening fire, then proceeded to use a knife, gravely injuring the two soldiers.
Confirming the tragic loss, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the media, stating that both victims were active soldiers. Subsequently, Israeli security forces neutralized the assailant, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Magen David Adom.
According to a military statement, the attacker gained entry by crossing the border in a truck designated for transporting humanitarian aid from Jordan. Following the incident, security forces swiftly launched a search operation across the vicinity and established a cordon around the nearby West Bank town of Jericho.
Authorities are currently investigating whether this was a lone act or if the assailant was operating on behalf of an organized group. The Palestinian militant group Hamas issued a statement praising the attack, though they did not explicitly claim responsibility for it.
This attack follows Hamas’s call for three “days of anger” targeting Israel and the United States, a response to Israel’s recent ground offensive in Gaza City earlier this week. That military operation has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza’s largest urban area.
The Jordanian foreign ministry swiftly condemned the violence in a statement released on X, indicating an ongoing investigation. The ministry identified the gunman as a Jordanian citizen who had started working as an aid driver, transporting humanitarian supplies to Gaza, approximately three months prior to the attack.
Given its significant Palestinian population, Jordan has recently become a hotbed of public outrage concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza, experiencing numerous widespread protests. As a key U.S. ally and one of the few Arab nations with an enduring peace treaty with Israel, Jordan finds itself navigating a complex situation, balancing internal public sentiment with its established regional and international relationships.
Tensions between Jordan and Israel have notably worsened since the Gaza conflict erupted almost two years ago, following a major assault led by Hamas against Israel.
The Allenby Bridge crossing, the site of Thursday’s tragic events, holds immense importance: it’s the principal passage for most Palestinians in the West Bank traveling internationally, the main conduit for commercial trade between Jordan and the West Bank, and a critical transit point for humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.
While such attacks at this particular crossing are rare, it’s worth noting a similar incident occurred last year when another Jordanian truck driver initiated a shooting, resulting in the deaths of three Israelis.
A key question remains unanswered: how the assailant managed to carry a weapon across the heavily monitored border during Thursday’s assault.
Bosmat Lubiner, a paramedic and regional commander for Magen David Adom, stated that the precise cause of death for the soldiers—whether from gunshots or stab wounds—was not immediately discernible, and that medical personnel had made every effort to save their lives at the scene.
The two fallen soldiers were identified as aged 68 and 20. It is a common practice in Israel for individuals to continue serving as reserve soldiers beyond their mandatory service age, often undertaking duties considered low-risk, with many dedicating themselves to service well into their sixties and seventies.
In the aftermath of Thursday’s attack, Israel promptly closed all its land border crossings, including the one at its southern border with Egypt. This measure was confirmed by a spokesman for the Israel Airports Authority, responsible for managing the nation’s border operations.
Even amidst the heightened tensions stemming from the Gaza conflict, Jordan has consistently honored its peace treaty with Israel. This includes ongoing coordination with Israeli officials on vital security and economic matters. Notably, Jordanian forces played a role in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones during the exchange of fire between Iran and Israel in 2024.
Historically, the West Bank has been under Israeli control since 1967, following its capture from Jordan during the Arab-Israeli war.