Israel has closed the only crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and neighboring Jordan, preventing more than two million Palestinians from accessing the outside world.
The Israeli airports authority, responsible for the Allenby Bridge crossing, announced it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership, without providing a specific reason.
This closure has left many Palestinians in the West Bank unable to travel abroad for planned trips, while those already outside are unable to return home.
The decision follows a recent incident where two Israeli military personnel were killed near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was subsequently shot dead at the scene.
Initially, the crossing was temporarily shut after this incident but had reopened before the indefinite closure.
Known also as the King Hussein Bridge, it is situated approximately midway between Amman and Jerusalem and represents the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan that does not require passing through Israel.
Most Palestinians in the West Bank cannot use Israeli airports or border crossings, making the bridge an essential gateway to the outside world.
Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian politician, described the closure as a dangerous move that effectively imprisons people in the West Bank and deprives them of their only exit.
He emphasized that the closure disrupts family connections across borders, especially affecting those separated from loved ones due to its indefinite nature.
Maxim Giacaman, a 23-year-old medical student from Bethlehem, expressed frustration, stating he was unable to attend a vital elective rotation in Germany due to the closure.
The Allenby Bridge is critical for the passage of goods and medical supplies into the West Bank, facilitating around 9% of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza via trucks. Its closure has raised fears among Palestinians that it is part of a broader Israeli clampdown since the recent escalation of violence in the region.
As an Israeli response to recent recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries, the closure underscores tensions that continue to haunt discussions around peace and stability in the region.
Historically, the bridge, named after British General Edmund Allenby, has been under Israeli control since the 1967 Six Day War, with closures often occurring during security emergencies or religious holidays.
