Israel has closed the only crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and neighbouring Jordan, stopping more than two million Palestinians from accessing the outside world.
The Israeli airports authority, which oversees the Allenby Bridge crossing, said it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership. It did not provide a reason.
The closure has stranded many Palestinians in the West Bank, who are unable to go on planned trips abroad. Those who are abroad have been unable to travel home.
It comes days after two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was killed at the scene.
The crossing was briefly shut following that incident but had since reopened. The Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, lies about halfway between Amman and Jerusalem and is the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan.
Most Palestinians in the West Bank are not allowed to travel through Israeli airports or other Israeli border crossings, making the bridge an essential connection to the outside world.
Prominent Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti told the BBC it was a dangerous move that meant imprisoning people in the West Bank and depriving them from the only passage out.
Barghouti emphasized, You're talking here about disrupting the relationship between hundreds of thousands of families who are usually connected through Jordan. He noted that many who were recently in Jordan now faced hardship without resources to remain abroad.
With Jordan housing over 2 million registered Palestinian refugees, the closure has significant implications for thousands impacted by this decision.
Maxim Giacaman, a medical student from Bethlehem, expressed his frustration at being unable to travel for a crucial medical rotation abroad, stating, It's miserable.
The Allenby bridge is not only a travel route; it is also vital for trade and medical supplies into the West Bank. Israeli authorities indicate that approximately 9% of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza passes through this crossing.
Additionally, fears persist that this closure reflects a broader Israeli response to recent recognition moves by several countries acknowledging Palestine as a state. The Israeli government denounces these actions as a reward for terrorism, amid internal calls for annexation of the West Bank.
In recent months, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel tightened its grip on the West Bank with increased checkpoints, settlement push, and military operations against Palestinian groups, exacerbating tensions.
The Allenby Bridge, established following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in 1917, has seen its control lie with Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. Historically, it has faced temporary closures due to various security strategies and religious holidays.
