Israel has sealed the Allenby Bridge crossing, the only direct gateway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, a day after a Jordanian aid driver opened fire, killing two Israeli soldiers before being shot dead.
The Israeli Airports Authority, which manages the crossing, said the closure would remain in place “until further notice.” Security has also been tightened at other border points: the Jordan River crossing in the north was shut down entirely, while the Rabin crossing in the south remains partially open for workers only.
The Allenby Bridge — one of the region’s most strategic transit points — is not only the main trade route between Jordan and Israel, but also the sole international outlet for more than three million Palestinians in the West Bank, who depend on it for travel, commerce, and humanitarian access.
No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s shooting, which struck at the heart of a critical artery linking the West Bank to the outside world.
The closure is expected to disrupt humanitarian aid shipments and strain cross-border trade, while underscoring the growing vulnerability of vital regional routes amid escalating tensions.
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