Indefinite Closure of Key Crossing Strands Palestinians in West Bank

Thu Oct 16 2025 10:57:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Allenby Bridge, the only international crossing for Palestinians between the West Bank and Jordan, has been closed indefinitely by Israel, leaving many stranded and unable to travel abroad or return home.

Israel has shut down the Allenby Bridge crossing, the sole route for over two million Palestinians to access the outside world. The indefinite closure follows a recent security incident and is seen as a response to international moves recognizing Palestinian statehood. Prominent voices in Palestine have called this action a method of 'imprisoning' residents of the West Bank, disrupting family connections and vital movements, particularly impacting those with urgent travel needs.

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, said it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership. It did not provide a reason.

The closure has stranded many Palestinians in the West Bank, who are unable to go on planned trips abroad. Those who are abroad have been unable to travel home.

It comes days after two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was killed at the scene.

It was briefly shut following that incident but had since reopened.

The crossing - also known as the King Hussein Bridge - lies about halfway between Amman and Jerusalem and is the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan. It is also the only entry point to the West Bank that does not go through Israel.

Most Palestinians in the West Bank are not allowed to travel through Israeli airports or other Israeli border crossings, meaning the bridge is an essential connection to the outside world.

Prominent Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti told the BBC it was a dangerous move that meant imprisoning people in the West Bank and depriving them from the only passage out.

You're talking here about disrupting the relationship between hundreds of thousands of families who are usually connected through Jordan, he said.

Jordan houses more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees, with over half of its population being of Palestinian descent, and has maintained ties with Israel since a peace treaty in 1994.

Maxim Giacaman, a medical student from Bethlehem, expressed frustration over the closure, stating, I have a rotation for one month in Germany for cardiac surgery... My plane is on Saturday and I was planning to go to Amman, Jordan today. So it's miserable.

The Allenby bridge is a key trade route for goods and medical supplies to enter the West Bank, with Israel claiming about 9% of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza passes through it.

Palestinians believe this closure is part of an Israeli response to the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries. The Israeli government has condemned these recognitions as a reward for terrorism.

Since the onset of increased conflict following attacks that resulted in many casualties, Israel has tightened its grip over the West Bank, expanding settlements and enforcing stricter controls.