Tragedy struck at a key border crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday when an attacker, wielding both a gun and a knife, brutally killed two Israelis. This grim news was confirmed by Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
The incident occurred at the Allenby Bridge crossing. Eyewitnesses from rescue teams described how the assailant emerged from a humanitarian aid truck awaiting inspection, opening fire before resorting to stabbing. Israeli security forces quickly neutralized the threat, killing the attacker, as reported by a Magen David Adom spokesperson.
According to a military statement, the gunman had entered the border area via a truck carrying humanitarian aid from Jordan. Following the attack, security forces initiated an extensive search of the surrounding area and encircled Jericho, a nearby West Bank town.
The motive and affiliation of the attacker remained unclear, with authorities yet to determine if he acted alone or as part of a larger organization. While the Palestinian militant group Hamas lauded the attack, it did not take direct responsibility.
This attack comes as Hamas had declared three ‘days of anger’ against Israel and the United States, following Israel’s recent ground offensive in Gaza City. That operation has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the urban center.
In response, the Jordanian foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the violence and confirming an ongoing investigation. They identified the gunman as a Jordanian citizen who had started driving aid to Gaza just three months prior.
Jordan, with its significant Palestinian population, has been a hotbed of public anger concerning the Gaza conflict, witnessing numerous protests. Despite its peace treaty with Israel and status as a U.S. ally, the nation finds itself balancing intense domestic pressure with its regional diplomatic commitments.
Bilateral relations between Jordan and Israel have notably worsened since the start of the Gaza war almost two years ago, which was ignited by a Hamas-led assault on Israel.
The Allenby Bridge, site of Thursday’s tragic events, is a critical passage. It functions as the main international gateway for Palestinians residing in the West Bank and a vital conduit for commercial traffic between Jordan and the West Bank. Furthermore, it has facilitated some aid deliveries to the embattled Gaza Strip.
While such attacks at this crossing are rare, a similar incident occurred last year when another Jordanian truck driver fatally shot three Israelis.
Authorities are still investigating how the assailant managed to bypass border security with a weapon on Thursday.
Bosmat Lubiner, a paramedic and regional commander for Magen David Adom, confirmed the victims were aged 68 and 20. Medics made valiant efforts to save their lives. The exact cause of death – whether from gunshots or stabbings – remains to be definitively determined.
Following the attack, Israel swiftly closed all its land border crossings, including the one with Egypt at its southern tip, as announced by a spokesperson for the Israel Airports Authority, responsible for managing these crossings.
Despite ongoing tensions stemming from the Gaza war, Jordan has maintained its peace treaty with Israel, engaging in continued coordination on security and economic matters. Notably, Jordanian forces assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones during a confrontation between Iran and Israel in 2024.
The West Bank has been under Israeli control since 1967, a territory it captured from Jordan during the Arab-Israeli war.
Additional reporting was provided by Rawan Sheikh Ahmad.