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.”
The attack came just over a year after a Jordanian terrorist opened fire at the Allenby Crossing, slaying three Israelis. Following that terror attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to work with Jordan to strengthen the eastern border and maintain “peace and security.
“In this multifront battle, we know we need to secure our eastern border with Jordan. It is a border of peace,” the prime minister declared. “We cooperate with the Kingdom of Jordan to ensure that it remains so.”
Construction work on the eastern security barrier along the frontier with Jordan has begun, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Monday.
The initial stage will focus on the Beit She’an, Jezreel and Jordan valleys, constructing the first sections of the new barrier that will span 50 miles.
The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately $1.71 billion, including the construction of a new security system along the border—from the southern Golan Heights to the Samar sands north of Eilat.
