SAEDNEWS: An assailant killed two Israelis at the Jordan–West Bank crossing before being “neutralized” by Israeli forces, raising questions about security at one of the region’s most heavily guarded borders.
Two Israelis were killed on Thursday in a sudden attack at the King Hussein Bridge crossing — also known as the Allenby Bridge — which connects Jordan to the occupied West Bank. According to Israel’s national ambulance service, the victims were a 20-year-old and a 60-year-old man who later died from their wounds.
The Israeli military said the assailant was driving a humanitarian aid truck from Jordan when he opened fire. Reports suggest his weapon may have jammed, leading him to stab the victims before security forces shot him dead.
The King Hussein Bridge is considered one of the most tightly monitored border crossings in the region. It is under Israeli control, yet it is also a critical lifeline for Palestinians, who cannot use Israel’s international airport and are barred from building one of their own in the West Bank or Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim described the incident as shocking, questioning how an armed attacker was able to reach the crossing undetected.
This is not the first time the crossing has seen bloodshed. In September 2024, another attack left three Israeli border workers dead, forcing a temporary closure.
The Jordanian government, caught in the middle of the fallout, said it was investigating the incident. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani promised that findings would be announced once confirmed.
Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency also confirmed that passenger traffic had been suspended at the bridge “after its closure from the other side.”
The incident risks straining already delicate relations between Jordan and Israel, especially as cross-border trade and humanitarian coordination rely heavily on the Allenby Bridge.
In response, Israeli forces launched an extensive search operation and quickly encircled the nearby West Bank town of Jericho. Witnesses reported heightened military presence and checkpoints around the area.
The Israeli army said it was treating the incident as a terrorist attack, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.
The Allenby Bridge is more than a border. It is the only international passage for millions of Palestinians. Closing it, even briefly, creates enormous humanitarian and political consequences.
This latest attack highlights three key issues:
Security gaps at one of the region’s most guarded crossings.
Fragile Israel-Jordan ties, which have been repeatedly tested by violence at the border.
Palestinian dependence on the crossing as their only window to the outside world.
The attack follows a series of violent incidents across the West Bank in recent months. Analysts warn that even isolated attacks at sensitive border points could trigger wider escalations.
With no group claiming responsibility yet, speculation is high: was this an organized militant attack, or the act of a lone assailant exploiting humanitarian access?
The attack at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge underscores the volatile mix of security, politics, and daily life in the region. For Israelis, it is another reminder of vulnerability, even in secure zones. For Palestinians, it risks further restrictions on their only outlet to the outside world. And for Jordan, it poses yet another diplomatic balancing act with its powerful neighbor.
As investigations continue, one question looms large: If one of the region’s most secured crossings can be breached, what does that mean for the fragile stability of the West Bank?
