West Bank Tensions Rise as Israel Closes Key Crossing with Jordan

Tue Oct 14 2025 13:11:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The closure of the Allenby Bridge, the only international crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, has left millions of Palestinians stranded, unable to travel abroad or return home.

Israel has indefinitely closed the Allenby Bridge crossing, trapping over two million Palestinians in the West Bank and halting their access to the outside world. This action follows a recent incident that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers. Palestinians and activists express deep concerns about the impact of this closure on families and livelihoods.

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, announced that it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership. However, no reasons were provided for the closure.

This situation has left many Palestinians stranded in the West Bank, blocking planned trips abroad and preventing those abroad from traveling home.

The closure comes just days after two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was subsequently killed.

Previously, the bridge had been briefly closed following that incident but was reopened. The crossing, known as the King Hussein Bridge, is a vital route around halfway between Amman and Jerusalem and serves as the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan, not going through Israel.

For most Palestinians, traveling through Israeli airports or border crossings is not allowed, which makes the Allenby Bridge critical for international travel.

Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti condemned the closure, calling it a dangerous move that effectively imprisons people in the West Bank and separates families connected through Jordan.

Individuals such as Maxim Giacaman, a medical student from Bethlehem, expressed his distress over being unable to travel abroad for vital medical training due to the bridge’s closure.

The Allenby Bridge is also a key trade route for goods and humanitarian aid entering the West Bank. Its closure raises fears that it is part of Israel's broader response to international recognition moves for a Palestinian state which have recently been announced by various countries.

Tensions have escalated in the region since the onset of a recent conflict initiated by a Hamas-led attack on Israel, leading to heightened military operations and increased checkpoints throughout the West Bank.