- Two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.
- The attacker, identified as Jordanian aid truck driver Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, was killed at the scene by Israeli security forces.
- The victims were reservist Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Harosh, 68, and Sergeant Oran Hershko, 20.
- Jordan condemned the attack and launched an investigation, stressing its impact on humanitarian aid operations.
- The incident occurred amid ongoing aid deliveries to Gaza, with over 8,600 trucks having crossed since the war began.
- Hamas praised the attack as retaliation against Israeli military actions in Gaza.
- The Allenby Bridge crossing has been closed following the shooting, echoing a similar deadly incident at the same location in 2024.
- The attack raises fresh concerns about security gaps in aid logistics and the fragile nature of Israel-Jordan relations.
Tensions flared at the Allenby Bridge crossing on Thursday after two Israeli soldiers were fatally shot by a Jordanian truck driver transporting humanitarian aid. The incident occurred near the heavily monitored border point between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, prompting immediate closure of the crossing and a wave of diplomatic and military responses.
The victims—Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Harosh and Sergeant Oran Hershko—were reportedly coordinating aid logistics when the attacker opened fire. Israeli forces responded swiftly, killing the assailant at the scene. The attacker, Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, had been working as a civilian aid driver for three months, according to Jordanian authorities.
Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the violence, calling it a breach of law and a threat to its humanitarian operations. The Kingdom has facilitated the passage of thousands of aid trucks into Gaza since the war began, including 22 on the day of the attack. Officials warned that such incidents could jeopardize future deliveries and strain regional cooperation.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas praised the attack, framing it as a response to what it described as Israeli aggression in Gaza. The endorsement underscores the volatile intersection of humanitarian aid and armed resistance in the region.
This marks the second deadly incident at the Allenby Bridge in just over a year. In September 2024, three Israeli border workers were killed in a similar attack by another Jordanian truck driver. The crossing—also known as the King Hussein Bridge—is the only direct entry point to the West Bank from Jordan and a vital artery for trade and aid.
While Jordan and Israel maintain formal diplomatic ties, the relationship remains fraught, especially over issues related to Palestinian rights and military operations. The latest attack has reignited concerns about security protocols and the politicization of aid routes.
As investigations continue, the Allenby Bridge remains closed, and both governments are bracing for the diplomatic fallout.
