NORTH SINAI, EGYPT - OCTOBER 19: A military vehicle is seen at the Rafah border crossing to Gaza on October 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday 14th October from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. On October 7th, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on border communities in southern Israel, spurring the most violent flare-up of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Israel launched a vast bombing campaign in retaliation and has warned of an imminent ground invasion. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images)
Israel on Friday shut the sole gateway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, a day after a Jordanian aid driver opened fire at the Allenby Bridge crossing, killing two Israeli military personnel before being shot dead.
The Israeli Airports Authority, which oversees the Allenby Bridge, announced the closure âuntil further notice.â The move came as security forces tightened measures across other border points with Jordan. The Jordan River crossing in the north was also closed, while the Rabin crossing in the south remained partially open for workers only.
Thursdayâs attack, for which no group has yet claimed responsibility, targeted one of the regionâs most critical transit points. The Allenby Bridge not only serves as the main trade route between Jordan and Israel but also acts as the sole gateway for more than three million Palestinians living in the West Bank to access Jordan and, from there, the wider world.
The closure highlights the fragility of regional security and raises concerns about disruptions to both humanitarian aid deliveries and cross-border commerce. It also underscores the vulnerability of critical routes at a time of heightened tensions in the region.
Melissa Enoch
About the Author
