A critical lifeline for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank remains shut this Sunday, as Israel continues the closure of its main border crossing to Jordan. This decision comes just days after a tragic incident where a Jordanian truck driver, armed with a gun and a knife, killed two Israeli soldiers at the site.
The Allenby Bridge, a vital transit point connecting Jordan and the West Bank, has been completely inaccessible since Thursday’s attack. This prolonged closure has effectively halted all movement for Palestinians attempting to enter or exit the territory, crippling both personal travel and the essential flow of commercial goods between Jordan and the West Bank.
According to the Israeli military, the individual responsible for Thursday’s violence had reportedly entered the crossing from Jordan, driving a truck laden with humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.
In the wake of the incident, Jordan swiftly condemned the attack and announced its own ongoing investigation into the matter.
Israel’s immediate response was to seal the crossing to all traffic, both individuals and commercial vehicles. The Israeli military further issued a statement recommending the suspension of all future humanitarian aid shipments from Jordan to Gaza until Jordan concludes its investigation and implements enhanced security protocols.
As of Sunday, the Israeli Airports Authority, responsible for managing the nation’s various crossings, has not provided a statement regarding the continued closure of the Allenby Bridge, leaving its potential reopening date shrouded in uncertainty.
For individuals like Hadeel Abu Humeid, this closure has brought immense personal distress. She had eagerly anticipated her in-laws’ return to the West Bank on Friday, just before the birth of her child. Now, with the bridge inaccessible, their return date remains unknown.
“They were forced to turn back. The financial losses are insignificant compared to the agony of not knowing if or when they can come home,” Ms. Abu Humeid shared. “I yearn for my baby to be welcomed by family, free from this pervasive feeling of disruption.”
The broader context of this tension stems from the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since then, the Israeli military has significantly escalated its operations across the West Bank, a region partially governed by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
Tragically, these extensive Israeli operations in the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of over 900 Palestinians since October 2023, as reported by the United Nations humanitarian affairs office.