In a shocking incident near the Allenby Crossing, two Israeli military personnel were tragically shot dead, sending shockwaves through the region. The victims have been identified as reservist Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Harosh, aged 68, and Sergeant Oran Hershko, just 20 years old.

According to the Israeli military, the assailant, identified as Abdul Muttalib Al-Qaisi, opened fire while operating a truck reportedly delivering humanitarian aid from Jordan. Security forces quickly neutralized the threat, but not before the two soldiers lost their lives.

Jordan's foreign ministry swiftly condemned the attack, labeling it a serious violation of law and detrimental to the nation’s ongoing efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the besieged Gaza Strip. They confirmed that Al-Qaisi, a civilian who began delivering aid just three months prior, would be investigated further.

In a troubling twist, the Palestinian group Hamas praised the violent act, claiming it was a justified response to ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinians. This has escalated tensions in a region already fraught with conflict.

This incident draws haunting parallels to a similar attack last year, where three Israeli men lost their lives at the same crossing, attributed to a Jordanian truck driver. The Allenby Bridge serves as the only official passage between the West Bank and Jordan that doesn’t involve Israeli territory, making it a key site for both humanitarian aid and trade.

Since the onset of hostilities in Gaza, Jordan has facilitated the transit of thousands of aid trucks, with 22 trucks crossing the bridge on Thursday alone. However, in the wake of this attack, Israeli authorities have closed the crossing, indicating the potential for further complications in the already challenging humanitarian landscape.

Jordan and Israel, although linked through security and diplomatic relations, find themselves at odds over the administration of Palestinian affairs, with Jordan critical of Israeli policies.