Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, when a Jordanian aid truck driver opened fire at the Allenby Bridge border crossing, the main gateway between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The deadly attack, which also involved stabbing, has sent shockwaves through the region, led to the immediate closure of the crossing, and heightened tensions between Israel and Jordan at a time when the broader conflict in Gaza continues to rage.
According to the Associated Press, the incident unfolded at the Israeli-run Allenby Bridge—also known as the King Hussein Bridge—where the attacker, identified as Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, 57, exited his truck during a security check and suddenly opened fire on Israeli personnel. The Israeli military described the event as a “militant attack.” The two victims, Lt. Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh of the Civil Administration and Sgt. Oran Hershko of the Liaison Unit to foreign forces, were both killed at the scene. The attacker, a retired Jordanian soldier who had been working as a Gaza-bound aid truck driver for three months, was neutralized by Israeli security forces, as confirmed by Reuters and the Palestine News and Information Agency WAFA.
Israeli sources told WAFA that after shooting the two Israelis, Al-Qaisi also stabbed them with a knife before being killed. The Israeli military, in statements reported by Reuters, referred to the shooter as a “terrorist” and confirmed that he had arrived in a truck transporting humanitarian aid from Jordan. The truck was reportedly carrying supplies destined for Gaza, a detail that has since led Israel to halt all aid convoys from Jordan to the besieged enclave, alleging security risks.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates confirmed the identity of the attacker, stating, “The suspected attacker was identified as Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, 57, confirming that he was a Jordanian civilian, who began working three months ago as a Gaza-bound aid truck driver.” The ministry also announced that Jordanian authorities had launched a formal investigation into the incident. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate responded by halting all passenger traffic at the Jordanian side of the crossing and urged travelers to follow official updates for further information.
The Allenby Bridge, as AP notes, is a crucial crossing for Palestinians and tourists alike—it’s the only official gateway for Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan and an essential trade route between the two countries. Immediately after the attack, Israeli authorities closed the crossing, preventing Jordanian passengers from entering the West Bank. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) also intensified their presence and tightened restrictions in the vicinity, particularly around the occupied city of Jericho.
This attack marks the third cross-border shooting by Jordanian citizens against Israelis in just over a year, all reportedly in retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. In October 2024, two Jordanian nationals, Amer Qawas and Hossam Abu Ghazalah, crossed into occupied Palestine near the Dead Sea and opened fire on Israeli soldiers before being killed themselves. The first in this series occurred in September 2024, when another retired Jordanian soldier, Maher al-Jazi, killed three Israeli border guards at the Allenby Bridge before being shot dead. Each attack has led to the temporary closure of the border and increased scrutiny of cross-border aid and personnel.
No group has claimed responsibility for the September 18 attack. Jordan’s government spokesperson said authorities were “following up on the incident,” but did not elaborate on possible motives or affiliations. Earlier this month, the Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for a separate shooting on the outskirts of Jerusalem, which killed six people, but there is no direct evidence linking Hamas to the Allenby Bridge attack.
The timing of the attack is especially fraught, coming as violence continues to escalate across the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The AP reported that on the same day as the border shooting, four Israeli soldiers were killed by an explosive device during an operation in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah. These deaths, while unrelated to the Allenby Bridge incident, underscore the ongoing human toll of the conflict. Since the ground invasion of Gaza began in October 2023, at least 460 Israeli soldiers have died, according to the Israeli military. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, estimates that at least 65,141 Palestinians have been killed in the war, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider these figures to be the most reliable available.
The Allenby Bridge attack has further complicated humanitarian efforts in Gaza. With Israel suspending all aid convoys from Jordan, citing the attacker’s use of a Gaza-bound truck, the already dire situation in the enclave may worsen. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned of starvation and medical shortages in Gaza, especially as Israeli military operations continue to displace hundreds of thousands of people. According to the United Nations, nearly 250,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee Gaza City alone, with vast swathes of the city destroyed in previous Israeli raids.
Political fallout from the attack has been swift. Israeli officials have characterized the incident as part of a broader pattern of violence linked to the Gaza war, while Jordanian authorities have moved quickly to distance themselves from the attacker, emphasizing his status as a civilian aid driver and launching an investigation. The closure of the Allenby Bridge, even if temporary, represents a significant disruption to trade, travel, and humanitarian access in the region. The crossing is not just a physical link between Jordan and the West Bank, but a symbol of the fragile ties and deep mistrust that characterize Israeli-Jordanian relations—ties that have been repeatedly tested by both the ongoing war and incidents like Thursday’s attack.
As the investigation continues and the border remains closed, many in the region are left grappling with the implications of yet another violent episode at a critical point of contact. The incident stands as a stark reminder of how quickly violence can spill across borders, upend fragile arrangements, and further complicate efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For now, the Allenby Bridge remains shuttered, its reopening uncertain, as both sides brace for what may come next in an already volatile landscape.