ALLENBY CROSSING, West Bank. In a deadly attack at the Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan on Sunday, three Israeli men, all in their 50s, were shot and killed by a gunman. The attacker, who approached from the Jordanian side in a truck, opened fire on Israeli security forces at the crossing, prompting a swift response. Israeli officials confirmed that the gunman was killed in a subsequent shootout.
Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service provided the identities of the victims, all Israeli men, though further details were withheld. The state-run Petra News Agency confirmed that Jordanian authorities are investigating the incident.
The Allenby Bridge Crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is a critical point of passage primarily used by Palestinians and international tourists. Despite the region’s tense environment, the crossing has seen few security incidents. The most notable occurred in 2014 when Israeli security forces shot and killed a Jordanian judge after he allegedly attacked them at the site.
The attack is believed to be linked to the ongoing 11-month war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the militant group’s October 7 attack from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, calling it part of the broader conflict against Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. He reaffirmed that Israel would not tolerate such acts of terror.
Rising Tensions in the West Bank and Gaza
The Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a surge in violence following the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli forces have increased their military operations in Palestinian residential areas, while there has been a significant rise in settler violence and retaliatory Palestinian attacks.
In a separate incident on Friday, American-Turkish activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed during a protest against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The White House expressed its concern, calling for a thorough investigation into her death, while her family is seeking an independent inquiry.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Sunday claimed the lives of five individuals, including two women, two children, and Mohammed Morsi, a senior Civil Defense official in northern Gaza. Morsi’s home in the Jabaliya refugee camp was targeted in the strike, according to Civil Defense officials. Israel’s military has yet to issue a formal statement, though it consistently asserts that it targets militants and seeks to avoid civilian casualties.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
