Gunman Kills Three at Allenby Bridge Border Crossing

A gunman from Jordan killed three Israeli civilians at the Allenby Bridge border in the occupied West Bank before being shot dead by security forces. This marks the first attack of its kind since Hamas' assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, intensifying regional tensions.

A gunman crossing from Jordan killed three Israeli civilians at the Allenby Bridge border in the occupied West Bank before security forces shot him dead on Sunday, according to Israeli authorities.

The attack was the first of its kind along the Jordanian border since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, escalating the Gaza conflict and regional tensions. The tragic incident occurred in a commercial cargo area controlled by Israel, where Jordanian trucks unload cargo entering the West Bank. The crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, links Amman and Jerusalem, north of the Dead Sea.

'A terrorist approached the area of the Allenby Bridge from Jordan in a truck, exited the truck, and opened fire at Israeli security forces operating at the bridge,' the Israeli military reported. 'The terrorist was neutralized by security forces, but three Israeli civilians were killed in the attack.'

Following the attack, Israel closed all three of its land border crossings with Jordan, the Israel Airports Authority announced. A Jordanian border official reported that at least two dozen Jordanian truck drivers in the offloading area were detained for questioning.

Israel and Jordan, who signed a peace treaty in 1994, maintain close security ties. Daily, dozens of trailers cross from Jordan, supplying goods to both the West Bank and Israeli markets. 'This is a difficult day,' stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'A loathsome terrorist murdered three of our civilians in cold blood.'

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri praised the attack as a response to Israel's Gaza offensive, stating, 'We expect many more similar actions.'

(With inputs from agencies.)