WEST BANK, NEAR ALLENBY BRIDGE CROSSING – A gunman crossing from Jordan killed three Israeli citizens at the Allenby Bridge border in the occupied West Bank before security forces shot him dead, Israeli officials said.
By the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Oct. It was the first such attack on the border with Jordan since southern Israel was attacked on the 7th. The war in Gaza Due to which the tension has increased in the entire area.
The attack took place in a commercial cargo area under Israeli control where Jordanian trucks were unloading cargo entering the West Bank, officials said. The crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is roughly midway between Amman and Jerusalem, north of the Dead Sea.
“A terrorist approached the area of the Allenby Bridge from Jordan in a truck, got out of the truck and opened fire on Israeli security forces operating on the bridge,” the Israeli military said.
“The terrorist was eliminated by security forces, three Israeli civilians were declared dead as a result of the attack,” it added.
Shortly thereafter, Israel closed all three of its land border crossings with Jordan, according to the Israel Airports Authority, which oversees such routes.
A Jordanian border official said at least two dozen Jordanian truck drivers were detained by the Israeli military for questioning at the offloading area.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994 and have close security ties. Dozens of trailers pass through Jordan daily with goods from Jordan and the Gulf supplying both the West Bank and Israeli markets.
“This is a difficult day,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “A despicable terrorist murdered three of our citizens in cold blood.”
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri praised the attack, citing it as a response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. “We expect many more similar actions,” he said.
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