Three Israeli civilians were killed in an attack by Jordanian militants on Sunday at the Allenby checkpoint, which links the West Bank with Jordan, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. said In a statement.
“Terrorists approached the area from Jordan in a truck near Allenby Bridge, disembarked and opened fire on Israeli security forces operating on the bridge,” the IDF said, adding that security forces returned fire, killing the gunman.
The Israel Airports Authority (IAA), which operates the border crossing, said the three civilians were staff members at the Allenby checkpoint. multiple news Outlet.
Jordan's Foreign Ministry said initial findings indicated the gunman acted alone but that authorities were continuing to investigate.
“The ministry stressed Jordan's firm position of rejecting and condemning violence and attacks against civilians for any reason and calling for addressing all sources of violence and de-escalation measures,” a translation of the official statement said.
The statement then reiterated its call for a ceasefire in Gaza, a de-escalation of violence in the West Bank and a path to peace.
Local news media and the Associated Press Identified The attacker was reportedly a Jordanian veteran, Maher al-Jajji, who was a truck driver transporting supplies from Jordan to the West Bank.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which called the attack “heroic,” It is called The Times of Israel reported that the attacker was “one of Jordan's bravest men.”
The Associated Press reported that hundreds of Jordanians took to the streets to celebrate the attack, burning Israeli flags and shouting slogans in support of the attackers.
“We congratulate this heroic operation carried out by this noble Jordanian hero,” local Muslim Brotherhood leader Murad Adayleh said in a statement reported by The Associated Press.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, posting on social platform X: “Our enemies want to kill us all, so we must unite and stand against them until we win.”
Violence has been increasing in the West Bank since the October 7 attacks by Hamas that left 1,200 Israelis dead and around 250 abducted and taken to Gaza. According to the Associated Press, Israel has been conducting frequent arrest raids in the West Bank, which has led to an increase in Israeli settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
