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Israel closed the only crossing between Israel -occupied West Coast and neighboring Jordan, stopping more than two million Palestinians to have access to the outside world.
The Israeli airport power, which runs the intersection of the Alanby Bridge, said it would be closed indefinitely from Wednesday morning “in the direction of political leadership.” That did not give a reason.
The closure has stuck many Palestinians on the west coast who are unable to go on planned trips abroad. Those who are abroad have failed to travel home.
Comes days after that Two Israeli military were shot dead Near the intersection of Jordan’s weapon who was killed at the scene.
It was closed briefly after this incident, but since then it opened again.
Crossing – also known as the Bridge of King Hussein – is about halfway between Aman and Jerusalem and is the only official point of crossing between the West Coast and Jordan. This is also the only entry point on the west coast that does not pass through Israel.
Most Palestinians on the west coast are not allowed to travel through Israeli airports or other Israeli border crossings, which means that the bridge is an essential connection to the outside world.
The prominent Palestinian politician Mustafa Bargutti told the BBC that it was a “dangerous move”, which means “prison” people on the west coast and “deprives the only passage”.
“You talk here about breaking the relationship between hundreds of thousands of families who are usually connected through Jordan,” he said.
“Thousands of people who have stuck in Jordan have no resources to walk and pay for hotels. They cannot stay out. There are mothers who live with their children on the west coast who have to return,” he added.
Jordan is home to more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees, while more than half of its population over 11 million are of Palestinian origin. He maintains security, trade and diplomatic ties with Israel after the 1994 peace treaty – but he is a vowel critic for Israel’s actions to the Palestinians.
Maxim Giakaman, 23 -year -old, medical student from Bethlehem, told the BBC that he was not able to travel abroad for a key election in his medical research.
“I have a rotation for a month in Germany for cardiac surgery,” he said. “And it was a great opportunity for me and for my future, my medical future.”
“My plane is on Saturday and today I planned to go to Aman, Jordan,” he says. “So it’s unhappy.”
The Alanby Bridge is a key commercial route for goods and medical supplies to enter the west coast. The Israeli authorities say that about 9% of the humanitarian aid sent from truck to gas passes through it.
The Palestinians fear that its indefinite closure is part of the Israeli response to moves announced this week by the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada and other countries to recognize the state of Palestine.
The Israeli Government has identified the moves of the “Terrorism Award”. Ultra -nationalist ministers called on Israel to annex directly to the west coast in response.
Following the attack, led by Hamas against southern Israel, with about 1,200 people killed and saw 251 hostages, activating the war in Gaza, Israel significantly tightened its control over the west coast.
It introduced hundreds of new checkpoints across the territory, launched a large-scale Jewish Push Pushand performed Main military operations against Palestinian resistance groups. Attacks from Israeli settlers Palestinians have also increased significantly.
“This shows you that the world community has fallen dramatically in the deterrence of Israel to expand its depressing policies,” Barguti says. “Israel will not be restrained unless there are serious criminal action.”
The Alanby Bridge was named after British General Edmund Alanby, who defeated the Ottoman Empire to gain control of Palestine in 1917. Built next year.
Israel controls its side on the bridge after the Six Day War in 1967, during which Israel defeated several Arab countries and in the past temporarily closed it during religious holidays or for security reasons.
