A gunman shot and killed three Israelis at a key border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank on Sunday, as violence in the region continues to escalate following the Gaza war. The Israeli military confirmed the incident and said the attack happened at the Allenby Bridge crossing, which is a sensitive point between Israel and Jordan.
The attacker, identified as a Jordanian citizen named Maher al-Jazi, arrived at the Israeli-controlled part of the crossing in a truck and opened fire. The gunman was killed at the scene by Israeli security forces. The victims were forklift operators working at the crossing, according to Israeli authorities.
Jordan Investigates the Incident
Jordan’s Interior Ministry quickly launched an investigation and confirmed that the gunman acted alone. They are now coordinating with Israeli officials to return the body to Jordan for burial.
The attack comes at a delicate time for relations between Israel and Jordan. The two countries have had a peace treaty since 1994, but tensions have been high due to the ongoing war in Gaza and widespread protests in Jordan, where many people are of Palestinian descent.
A Complicated Situation
The Allenby Bridge is a vital crossing for Palestinians in the West Bank, serving as the main way for them to travel abroad and for commercial goods to move between Jordan and the West Bank. It has also been an entry point for aid headed to Gaza, which has been devastated by recent fighting.
The motive behind the attack is still unclear, but Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, praised the gunman. However, they did not take responsibility for the attack.
Rising Violence Since October
The attack is just the latest in a series of violent incidents that have rocked the West Bank since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, igniting the current war. Israeli forces and settlers have since killed over 600 people in the West Bank, according to the United Nations, many of whom were civilians.
This incident also follows a recent 10-day raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, which left a path of destruction and numerous deaths, further increasing tensions in the region.