Israel endured one of its bloodiest days in recent weeks on Thursday, as a deadly attack at the Allenby Bridge crossing and an ambush in southern Gaza left at least six Israeli soldiers dead. The incidents have fueled calls within Israel’s political and military leadership to halt humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza that transit through Jordan.
The day began when a Jordanian truck driver transporting humanitarian aid opened fire while attempting to cross the Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, which connects Jordan and the West Bank. According to eyewitnesses, the attacker fatally shot one Israeli soldier before his weapon jammed. He then drew a knife, killing a second soldier before being gunned down by Israeli forces. The assault prompted the immediate closure of the crossing, though it remains unclear whether the shutdown will be temporary or permanent.
Following the attack, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir urged Israel’s political leadership to suspend all Gaza-bound aid trucks passing through the crossing, while the Foreign Ministry claimed the incident demonstrated how militants could exploit humanitarian channels for attacks.
Later in the day, four Israeli soldiers were killed and three more wounded in southern Gaza when their Humvee struck an explosive device. Reports in Israeli media also suggested two additional fatalities occurred during combat operations in northern Gaza, though the military has yet to confirm those deaths.
Adding to the volatile situation, Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement—known internationally as the Houthis—launched a drone that struck the Jacob Hotel in Eilat. Footage shared online showed the drone hitting the building’s entrance, though casualties remain unconfirmed. The strike highlights the group’s growing ability to penetrate Israeli defenses from long range, as projectiles launched from Yemen are typically intercepted before impact.
These incidents come as Israel intensifies its offensive into Gaza City, seeking to displace more than a million Palestinians who have taken refuge there since the war erupted nearly two years ago. The surge in attacks underscores the growing regional dimensions of the conflict, with pressure mounting on Tel-Aviv to escalate further while balancing international scrutiny over aid restrictions.