Israel has kept the primary border crossing for Palestinians exiting the Israeli-occupied West Bank closed since Sunday, days after a Jordanian truck driver, armed with both a gun and a knife, tragically killed two Israeli soldiers there.
The Allenby Bridge crossing, which connects Jordan and the West Bank, has been inaccessible since Thursday’s attack. This closure has made it virtually impossible for Palestinians to travel in or out of the territory. Beyond being the essential passage for most West Bank Palestinians traveling internationally, it also serves as the main artery for commercial goods moving between Jordan and the West Bank.
Reports from the Israeli military indicate that the assailant involved in Thursday’s incident arrived at the crossing from Jordan in a truck that was transporting humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.
Jordan swiftly condemned the attack and confirmed it has launched an investigation into the matter.
Following the attack, Israel immediately halted all travel and truck traffic through the crossing. In an official statement, the Israeli military recommended that further humanitarian aid transfers from Jordan to Gaza be suspended until Jordan concludes its investigation and implements enhanced security protocols.
The Israeli Airports Authority, responsible for overseeing the nation’s border crossings, has yet to comment on the continued closure of the Allenby Bridge crossing as of Sunday. There is currently no clear timeline for its reopening.
For residents like Hadeel Abu Humeid, the closure has brought immense personal distress. She was eagerly awaiting her in-laws’ return to the West Bank on Friday, just before the anticipated birth of her child. Now, with the bridge closed, their return date remains uncertain.
“They had to turn back. The money they lost is nothing compared to the uncertainty of not knowing when, or if, they’ll be able to return,” Ms. Abu Humeid shared. “I want my baby to be born among family, not amid this constant sense of disruption.”
Since the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli military has significantly intensified its operations and raids across the West Bank, an area partially administered by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
According to the United Nations humanitarian affairs office, over 900 Palestinians have been killed during these extensive Israeli operations in the West Bank since October 2023.