Israel was set to reopen the Allenby Crossing with Jordan on Wednesday for the first time since a Jordanian Armed Forces contractor murdered two Israeli soldiers stationed on the border in a Sept. 18 terrorist attack. An Israeli security official told Hebrew media that Jerusalem’s political echelon ordered the crossing reopened for the passage of goods and humanitarian aid after “necessary security adjustments” were implemented on both sides of the border.
“Security screening and inspection procedures for Jordanian drivers and the contents of the trucks have been tightened and dedicated security forces have been assigned to guard the crossing,” the official said. The official emphasized that aid trucks will be transferred to the Gaza Strip “under escort and security after thorough security inspection.” On Sept. 18, a civilian hired by the Jordanian Armed Forces to transport aid to the Gaza Strip carried out a combined shooting and stabbing attack while waiting for his truck to be inspected by Israeli troops.
The Israel Defense Forces identified the victims as Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20, a liaison officer in the army’s international cooperation unit, and Lt. Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh, 68, an officer in the Civil Administration’s Unit 309. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir advised the political echelon to halt deliveries of humanitarian aid from Jordan following the attack. Jerusalem’s Foreign Ministry in an X post blamed the terrorist attack on “vile incitement in Jordan,” adding that the two IDF soldiers were killed as a result of Amman’s incessant “echoing of Hamas’s campaign of lies.” (Read More)
