Three Israeli border guards were killed in a shooting at the Allenby Crossing, located on the border between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, on Sunday, according to Israeli Emergency Services. The Israel Airports Authority confirmed the victims were employees of the crossing.
Key Details:
- Assailant Identified: The shooter, reportedly a Jordanian driver, was killed by a security guard at the scene. Alex Chen, the manager of the crossing, confirmed that the attacker shot the employees at close range before being neutralized.
- Attack at the Allenby Bridge: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the assailant approached the Allenby Bridge in a truck from Jordan, exited the vehicle, and opened fire on Israeli security forces. The shooter was killed after the attack, which resulted in the deaths of three Israeli civilians.
- Israeli Response: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident, calling the shooter a “despicable terrorist.” He linked the attack to a broader “murderous ideology” led by Iran’s axis of evil.
Ongoing Tensions:
This shooting comes shortly after Israel’s expansive military operations in the West Bank, following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7. Clashes between Israeli forces, settlers, and Palestinians have intensified, with nearly 700 Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Jordan-Israel Relations:
While Jordan signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994, relations have been strained due to Jordan’s criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Jordan is also a close ally of the United States, receiving significant military aid from the U.S.