Israel shut the sole gateway between the West Bank and Jordan on Friday, a day after a driver bringing humanitarian aid from Jordan for Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli soldiers there.
Those killed in Thursday’s attack were Lt.-Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh, 68, from Jerusalem, and Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20, from Tel Mond.
Harosh served as an officer in the 309th Reserve Unit of the Civil Administration. Hershko was a liaison officer for foreign forces in the Tevel Brigade.
The Airports Authority, which operates the Allenby Bridge crossing, announced that it would be closed until further notice.
Jordanian police said on Saturday that the crossing would reopen to pedestrian traffic on Sunday but would remain closed to cargo until further notice.
Allenby Bridge attack aftermath
Some 7% of all aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip since the October 7, 2023, massacre have been transferred through the Allenby crossing, according to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.
The two crossings between Israel itself and Jordan were also affected by Thursday’s attack, with the Jordan River crossing in the North shut and the Rabin crossing in the South remaining open only for workers.
“This is a difficult incident, and we will draw lessons from it,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir at the scene of the attack on Friday.
“We are strengthening and will continue to strengthen all components of defense on the eastern border. IDF soldiers stand guard to allow the people of Israel to celebrate the Tishrei holidays in peace.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the Allenby Bridge crossing.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.