Impact of Allenby Bridge Closure on Palestinians

Sun Sep 28 2025 23:29:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Israel's indefinite closure of the Allenby Bridge crossing halts access for over 2 million Palestinians, stranding individuals and families while creating a humanitarian crisis.

The recent closure of the Allenby Bridge, the sole international crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, by Israeli authorities has left more than two million Palestinians without the ability to travel abroad or return home. Political tensions following a violent incident near the crossing have led to significant concerns about the humanitarian implications of this decision, particularly for those with family ties and planned travel. Prominent voices like Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti highlight this closure as a dangerous move that imprisons citizens and disrupts familial connections. With fears growing alongside the current geopolitical climate, the bridge's status is increasingly viewed as a vital lifeline for Palestinians.

Israel has closed the only crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and neighbouring Jordan, stopping more than two million Palestinians from accessing the outside world.

The Israeli airports authority, which oversees the Allenby Bridge crossing, said it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning at the direction of the political leadership. It did not provide a reason.

The closure has stranded many Palestinians in the West Bank, who are unable to go on planned trips abroad. Those who are abroad have been unable to travel home.

It comes days after two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman, who was killed at the scene.

It was briefly shut following that incident but had since reopened.

The crossing - also known as the King Hussein Bridge - lies about halfway between Amman and Jerusalem and is the only official crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan. It is also the only entry point to the West Bank that does not go through Israel.

Most Palestinians in the West Bank are not allowed to travel through Israeli airports or other Israeli border crossings, meaning the bridge is an essential connection to the outside world.

Prominent Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti told the BBC it was a dangerous move that meant imprisoning people in the West Bank and depriving them from the only passage out.

Jordan is home to more than 2m registered Palestinian refugees, while more than half of its population of more than 11m are of Palestinian descent. It has maintained security, trade and diplomatic ties with Israel since a 1994 peace treaty - but is a vocal critic of Israel's actions towards Palestinians.

Maxim Giacaman, 23, a medical student from Bethlehem, told the BBC he was unable to travel abroad for a key elective in his medical studies.

It shows you that the world community has failed drastically in deterring Israel from expanding its oppressive policies, says Barghouti. Israel will not be restrained unless there are serious punitive acts.

The Allenby bridge was named after British general Edmund Allenby, who defeated the Ottoman empire to gain control of Palestine in 1917. It was built in the following year.

Israel has controlled its side of the bridge since the 1967 Six Day War, during which Israel defeated several Arab states, and in the past has temporarily closed it during religious holidays or for security reasons.