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, stated it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership, without providing a reason.
This closure has stranded many Palestinians in the West Bank, preventing them from going on planned trips abroad, while those abroad cannot travel home.
The decision follows a recent incident where two Israeli military personnel were killed near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was shot dead by security forces.
The bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan that does not go through Israel. Most Palestinians in the West Bank are barred from using Israeli airports or border crossings, making the Allenby Bridge essential for international travel.
Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian politician, criticized the closure as a dangerous move that effectively imprisons people in the West Bank and cuts them off from their families.
Many Palestinians, including student Maxim Giacaman, are directly affected by the situation; Giacaman expressed frustration over being unable to reach a medical elective in Germany due to the bridge's closure.
Palestinians fear that this indefinite closure is part of broader Israeli policies in response to international recognition of a Palestinian state. Israeli officials have labeled these moves as a reward for terrorism and discussions about annexation of the West Bank have resurfaced.
The Allenby Bridge serves not only as a travel point but also as a vital route for humanitarian aid and goods entering the West Bank, further raising concerns about the humanitarian implications of its closure.
Historically significant, the Allenby Bridge has been under Israeli control since the 1967 Six-Day War and has been temporarily closed during sensitive periods, but has rarely faced an indefinite shutdown.
