Gunman kills three Israeli civilians at West Bank-Jordan border, probe launched
File photo.
A gunman killed three Israeli civilians in an attack near the Allenby Bridge border crossing with Jordan before security forces shot him dead on Sunday (Sept 8), the news agency Reuters reported, citing Israeli authorities.
"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 Israeli military said.
The military added that the terrorist was eliminated.
Jordan closes border crossing with West Bank
The Allenby Bridge border crossing is also known as theKing Hussein Bridge. It lies about midway between Amman and Jerusalem, north of the Dead Sea. Following the incident, Jordan closed theKing Hussein Bridge crossing with the occupied West Bank as it launched an investigation.
The crossing is the only international gateway for Palestinians from the West Bank that does not require entering Israel, which has occupied the territory since 1967.
Private security guards operate the crossing alongside Israeli security forces stationed there.
Violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza broke out afterthe October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Since the Gaza war began,Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 662 Palestinians in the West Bank,according to the claims of the Palestinian health ministry.
US-Turkish woman shot dead at West Bank protest
This incident near the Jordan border comes after an American-Turkish woman was shot deadwhile demonstrating against Israeli settlements in the occupiedWestBanktown of Beita.
Turkey identified the woman as Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, and condemnedher death, while the United States called it a "tragic" event and pressed Israel to investigate.
The UN rights office said Israeli forces killed Eygi with a "shot in the head." According to the UN,Eygi, 26, was participating in a "peaceful anti-settlement protest" in Beita, the scene of weekly demonstrations.
(With inputs from agencies)