Violence Erupts: Clash at Jordan-West Bank Border Results in Demise of Two Israeli Soldiers
In a shocking turn of events, an assailant killed two Israeli soldiers at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing, a vital trade crossing between Jordan and Israel, on Thursday. The attacker, identified as Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, a Jordanian citizen born in 1968, was working as a truck driver for humanitarian aid to Gaza and had been in this job for about three months before the attack.
The incident has raised questions about how an armed assailant managed to get through unnoticed, given the highly secured nature of the crossing. Al Jazeera's Nida Ibrahim reported that the latest attack has brought into focus the need for enhanced security measures at the bridge.
The assailant began shooting and was subsequently neutralized by security forces. Israeli media reports suggest the perpetrator may have used a knife to stab the victims after his gun malfunctioned. The bridge is the only crossing through which most Palestinians may travel abroad due to restrictions on traveling from Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport and Israel's refusal to allow the building of an airport in the West Bank or Gaza.
Following the attack, Israeli forces conducted searches in the area and encircled the nearby West Bank town of Jericho. The Israeli foreign ministry accused Jordan of being responsible for the attack, stating it was a result of incitement in Jordan. In response, the Israeli military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, recommended halting the entry of humanitarian aid from Jordan, pending an investigation and revised security protocols for Jordanian drivers.
Passenger traffic was suspended at the crossing following its closure from the other side. Jordan's foreign ministry condemned the attack as a violation of international law. The victims, aged about 20 and 60, were wounded on Thursday and later pronounced dead.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet. The King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge was previously the site of an attack in September 2024 when a gunman from Jordan killed three Israeli border workers, resulting in its closure for two days. This latest attack serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region and the need for increased security measures to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
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