Three Israelis were killed in a terrorist attack at the Allenby border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. Another reason for Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue his tough stance.
It is a shock for Israel: For the first time since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Allenby border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank has become the scene of a terrorist attack.
According to information available, a truck coming from Jordan was driving across the border bridge in the morning when a presumably Jordanian driver pulled out a handgun and opened fire. He shot three Israeli border workers before being shot dead by security guards. All three Israelis died.
Border crossings to Jordan closed
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a difficult day before a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. A despicable terrorist had murdered three Israeli citizens in cold blood.
“We are surrounded by a murderous ideology led by Iran's axis of evil. In recent days, despicable terrorists also murdered six of our hostages and three policemen,” he said. “The terrorists do not discriminate, they want to kill each and every one of us – down to the last one.”
In response, Israel closed all border crossings to Jordan. The Jordanian authorities also announced an investigation into the case, as the attacker was allegedly a Jordanian citizen.
According to Israeli media, the attack took place in an Israeli-controlled cargo area where trucks from Jordan unload their supplies for the West Bank and Israel.
Netanyahu invokes state power
For Netanyahu, this is further evidence to continue the harsh military action against his country's enemies. “What is stopping the destruction of our people, as in the past, is the power of the state and the strength of the Israel Defense Forces.”
The far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said that Israel is not only at war against Gaza and Hezbollah, but also in Judea and Samaria, the biblical name for the West Bank. Ben-Gvir added that he had asked Netanyahu to include “victory” “in Judea and Samaria” in the “war aims.”
It is unclear whether the alleged Jordanian attacker belonged to an extremist organization. In a statement, the Palestinian Jihad spoke of a – quote – “heroic” use of firearms during the border crossing, “which reflects the mentality in Jordan and the Arab world.”
