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.
It was briefly shut following that incident but had since reopened.
The crossing - 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. It is also the only entry point to the West Bank that does not go through Israel.
Most Palestinians in the West Bank are not allowed to travel through Israeli airports or other Israeli border crossings, meaning the bridge is 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.
Jordan is home to more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees, while more than half of its population of more than 11 million are of Palestinian descent. It has maintained security, trade and diplomatic ties with Israel since a 1994 peace treaty - but is a vocal critic of Israel's actions towards Palestinians.
Maxim Giacaman, a medical student from Bethlehem, shared his plight of being unable to travel abroad for a critical elective in his studies.
The Allenby bridge is a key trade route for goods and medical supplies to enter the West Bank. Approximately 9% of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza passes through it.
Palestinians fear its indefinite closure may reflect an Israeli response to recent announcements by countries recognizing the State of Palestine, actions condemned by the Israeli government.
Since the Hamas-led attack that triggered the current war in Gaza, Israel has intensified restrictions in the West Bank, raising alarm about the future of Palestinian mobility and rights.
