Three Israeli civilians killed at crossing between West Bank and Jordan

Three Israeli civilians were killed on Sunday by a Jordanian gunman who opened fire at the Allenby Crossing connecting the West Bank and Jordan, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

“A terrorist approached the area of the Allenby Bridge from Jordan in a truck, exited the truck, and opened fire at the Israeli security forces operating at 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 employees of the Allenby crossing, according to multiple news outlets .

The Jordanian foreign ministry said initial findings indicate the gunman was acting alone, but that authorities would continue investigating.

“The Ministry stressed Jordan’s firm position in rejecting and condemning violence and targeting civilians for any reason, and calling for addressing all causes and escalatory steps that generate it,” a translation of an official statement read.

The statement then reiterated calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, de-escalation of violence in the West Bank and a path to peace.

Local news outlets and The Associated Press identified the gunman as Maher al-Jazi, a retired Jordanian soldier, who was reportedly a truck driver transporting goods from Jordan to the West Bank.

The attack was celebrated by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which called the attack “heroic,” and by Hamas, which called the attacker “one of Jordan’s brave men,” The Times of Israel reported.

The AP reported that hundreds of Jordanians took to the streets in celebration of the attack, burning the Israeli flag and chanting slogans in support of the gunman.

“We bless this heroic operation carried out by this noble Jordanian hero,” Murad Adaileh, head of the local Muslim Brotherhood Party, said in a statement reported by the AP.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and wrote on the social platform X, “Our enemies want to murder us all – therefore we must stand united against them – until victory,” according to a translation.

The West Bank has seen an increase in violence since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in 1,200 Israelis dying and approximately 250 getting abducted and taken to Gaza. Israel has launched frequent arrest raids in the West Bank, according to the AP, and there’s been an increase in Israeli settler violence, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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