Israel keeps crossing with Jordan closed for 2nd day after deadly shooting

The King Hussein Crossing, known as Allenby Crossing in Israel, remained closed for a second consecutive day on Friday in both directions between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, according to the Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders.

In a statement, the authority said: “The occupation (Israeli) authorities closed the crossing and forced buses of departing passengers to return to Jericho.”

It added that the closure has suspended all travel to and from Jordan.

The move came a day after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting at the crossing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the deaths during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, KAN reported on Friday.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the assailant was driving a humanitarian aid truck bound for Gaza when he opened fire. He was shot and wounded at the scene, but his fate remains unclear.

During the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu blamed Jordan for failing to prevent the attack.

“I demand that from now on, the drivers pass through metal detectors and that the trucks undergo thorough inspection. It was Jordan’s responsibility to prevent the attack, and it did not do so,” he said.

The Israeli army has continued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 65,100 Palestinians since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and forced the population into famine.

In September 2024, three Israelis were killed by gunfire from a Jordanian truck driver at the same crossing.

Jordan shares three border crossings with Israel: Sheikh Hussein (Jordan River) Bridge, King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, and Wadi Araba (Yitzhak Rabin) Crossing.