Three Israelis Killed in Shooting Near West Bank-Jordan Border Crossing

 

Allenby Bridge, Also Known as King Hussein Bridge, Situated Midway Between Amman and Jerusalem

Three Israeli Guards Killed at Allenby Bridge Border in Attack by Jordanian Gunman; All Crossings Closed see more...

In a deadly attack at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, three Israeli guards—Yohanan Shchori, 61, Yuri Birnbaum, 65, and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer—were shot dead by a Jordanian truck driver, Maher Jazi, according to Israeli officials. 

The gunman, a 39-year-old truck driver, arrived at the crossing from the Jordanian side, exited his vehicle, and opened fire. Israeli security personnel responded swiftly, neutralizing the gunman, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inspected his truck for explosives. Video footage shows the gunman approaching the terminal before firing multiple shots.

The incident, which occurred in an Israeli-controlled zone where Jordanian vehicles offload goods into the West Bank, has prompted immediate border closures between Jordan and Israel. 

The Allenby Bridge crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is the only official crossing point between Jordan and the West Bank that bypasses Israel. It is a crucial route for trade, with dozens of trucks transporting goods daily to markets in both the West Bank and Israel.

Jordanian authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, and at least two dozen Jordanian truck drivers present at the offloading area were detained for questioning by the Israeli military. 

The incident has escalated tensions between Israel and Jordan, two nations that share diplomatic, trade, and security ties, despite Jordan's criticism of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians.

As a result of the shooting, the Israel Airports Authority announced that all land crossings between Jordan and Israel have been shut down. 

The attack has drawn widespread attention due to the strategic importance of the Allenby Bridge, which sits about halfway between Amman and Jerusalem, and the complexity of Israeli-Jordanian relations in the context of ongoing regional conflicts.

This attack has not only disrupted the movement of goods but also heightened security concerns, underscoring the fragile peace between the two nations. Further investigations are expected as both sides work to clarify the motives behind the deadly incident.

Netanyahu Calls Allenby Bridge Attack a 'Loathsome Terrorist Act'; Hamas Describes It as 'Natural Response' to Gaza War"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a cabinet meeting, described the killing of three Israeli citizens at the Allenby Bridge crossing as a "hard day" and condemned the incident as a "loathsome terrorist act." 

He offered condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the seriousness of the attack.

The gunman, identified as Jordanian truck driver Maher Jazi, opened fire at the border crossing, killing the three Israeli guards in cold blood before being shot by security forces. The attack occurred in an Israeli-controlled area where Jordanian trucks regularly unload goods for the West Bank. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) thoroughly checked Jazi's truck for explosives after neutralizing the threat.

Hamas, although not claiming direct responsibility for the shooting, called it a "natural response" to the ongoing war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been conducting major operations.

 The conflict has seen a significant rise in violence across the region, with more than 600 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel and the start of the Gaza war. 

At least 18 Israelis have also been killed in West Bank-related violence during this period, according to United Nations figures, excluding casualties after 11 August.

This surge in violence follows a large-scale Israeli military operation in Jenin, a city in the West Bank and home to a refugee camp with around 60,000 residents, known as a stronghold of militants.

 Last week, Israeli forces withdrew from the area after a nine-day campaign aimed at targeting militants. Israel has framed its operations in the West Bank and Gaza as efforts to prevent deadly Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and combat terrorism.

The attack at the Allenby Bridge, a crucial trade and travel route between Jordan and the West Bank, has led to heightened security measures and a temporary closure of all land crossings between Jordan and Israel. 

The incident underscores the fragility of peace and the growing instability in the region as the conflict intensifies.

Jordan, a nation that maintains diplomatic, security, and trade relations with Israel, is investigating the incident. 

The broader conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to inflame tensions across the region, with repercussions not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and beyond.