Israel Closes Allenby Bridge Crossing, Impacting Millions of Palestinians

The sudden decision by Israel to completely close the only land crossing that provides access for more than three million Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank to international travel has sharpened fears of new restrictions amid threats from Israel in response to the recognition of Palestine by several Western countries. The closure of the crossing left Palestinians stranded abroad, patients undergoing treatment in Jordan, forcing them to stay there longer with limited budgets. Many families are separated, and thousands of people still do not know when the border will reopen.

One of my daughters has diabetes. She missed a planned check-up in Jordan today, and I cannot bring her here because the border is closed.

He said, adding that “schools are also starting, so my children will miss the start of the school year.”

Another Palestinian from Hebron, Rami Al-Quasmi, said he had to rent a house in Jordan, awaiting the crossing’s restoration.

I don’t know where to go, thousands of others like me.

The Israeli government, which controls the crossing, has not yet explained the reasons for its closure. The Israel Airports Authority says the decision was made by the political elite. The events began a few days after a Jordanian driver transporting humanitarian aid for Gaza opened fire at the crossing, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers; the Israeli army said it is investigating the incident.

Palestinians view the closure as retaliation and a response to the decision by several Western countries this week to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.

“This is a punishment against the people, and it closely resembles checkpoints scattered across the West Bank. We feel as if we are living in a big prison.”

Britain, France, Canada, Australia and several other Western countries officially recognized the Palestinian state on Monday – a move that Israel and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemned, calling the decision a “massive reward for terror.”

“Britain, France, Canada, Australia and several other Western countries officially recognized the Palestinian state on Monday, a move that Israel and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemned, saying the decision provides a ‘massive reward for terror’.”

The Allenby Bridge, also known as the Hussein Bridge, has served the Palestinian territory as the main exit route from the West Bank, allowing travelers to reach international airports in neighboring Jordan, visit relatives who live there, or receive medical care. The bridge is named after British General Edmund Allenby, who led Allied forces in the campaign to seize Palestine from the Ottoman Empire more than a century ago.

Israel has controlled the bridge since then and closes it during religious holidays or for security reasons. Last week the crossing had already closed after the death of two Israeli soldiers, but reopened a few days later; a similar attack in previous years also led to the closure of the crossing.

“The closure of the border is a collective punishment and an ill-conceived measure by Netanyahu, leading Israel toward international isolation.”

Related statements indicate that Israel is considering the possibility of annexing all or part of the West Bank, and hard-right ministers are pressing for full annexation. In the occupied territory, more checkpoints have been built and dozens of iron gates installed, significantly restricting the movement of people.

“This turns all small towns and villages into smaller prisons and ghettos as part of a plan to partition the land and pressure people with the aim of their expulsion from Palestine.”

The Allenby crossing and adjacent routes remain a critical lifeline for the Palestinian territories’ economy, enabling the delivery of essential goods and, in recent years, humanitarian aid from Jordan to Gaza, devastated by the Israeli response to last year’s attack on Israeli cities.

“The closure of the border is a collective punishment, and it is Netanyahu’s misguided measure that leads Israel to international isolation.”

Against the backdrop of rising international tension, the response has been varied: some countries voiced support for the Palestinian state, others urged dialogue and preserving freedom of movement for civilians. Some analysts emphasize the need for prudent steps from both sides to avoid a humanitarian crisis and further escalation of the conflict.

The overall situation suggests that the Israel-controlled Allenby crossing continues to exert a significant influence on the lives of Palestinians, the region’s economy, and the ability to deliver humanitarian aid. Prospects for change remain closely tied to the political dynamics on the international stage and to domestic political decisions in both countries.

“The closure of the border is a collective punishment, and it is Netanyahu’s misguided measure that leads Israel toward international isolation.”