Israel has indefinitely closed the Allenby Bridge crossing, the sole passage between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, affecting over two million Palestinians. The Israeli Airports Authority announced the closure, initiated “at the direction of the political leadership,” without providing a specific reason. This decision has stranded many Palestinians, preventing them from traveling abroad and complicating the return for those already overseas.

The closure follows a recent shooting incident near the crossing in which two Israeli military personnel were killed. Prominent Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti described the move as “dangerous,” suggesting it effectively imprisons West Bank residents and disrupts family connections, especially as many Palestinians in Jordan lack resources for extended stays.

The Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is the only non-Israeli route for Palestinians to connect with the outside world. It also serves as a critical trade and humanitarian aid route to the West Bank. Concerns have emerged that the closure may be part of Israel’s broader response to international recognition of Palestinian statehood. In recent months, Israel has intensified its controls in the West Bank, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

The bridge, named after British General Edmund Allenby, has been under Israeli administration since the 1967 War and has faced occasional closures for security and religious reasons.



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