Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers, Lt. Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh, 68, and Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20, were killed in an attack at the Allenby Crossing on September 18th, 2025, when a Jordanian national driving a humanitarian aid truck opened fire and then stabbed them. The incident, which occurred earlier today, has led to an IDF recommendation to temporarily halt aid entry from Jordan and has caused significant embarrassment within Jordanian official circles, with security mechanisms investigating a reported malfunction. The IDF's recommendation to halt Jordanian aid entry was made by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, following consultation with COGAT and the Central Command, as reported previously. The IDF stated that the attack undermined their trust in Jordanian checks, particularly regarding the selection of truck drivers and the inspection of aid entering Gaza without Israeli control. The attack involved the Jordanian assailant opening fire before his weapon jammed, leading him to resort to stabbing. The IDF confirmed the terrorist arrived from Jordan. Sources close to the Jordanian royal house have indicated that security mechanisms are investigating the event and acknowledge a malfunction, describing the incident as "unfortunate." The attack is feared to harm Jordanian humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to reports from Amman. Previously, the IDF had recommended halting aid entry from Jordan after the attack, citing the need for revised procedures for Jordanian drivers. In separate but concurrent developments, four Israeli soldiers were killed and three wounded in an explosion in eastern Rafah on September 18th, 2025, at approximately 9:30 AM UTC when a vehicle struck an explosive device. The fallen soldiers were identified as Major Omri Hay bin Moshe, 26; Lieutenant Ron Arieli, 20; Lieutenant Eitan Avner Bin Ishaq, 22; and Lieutenant Eran Shalim, 23, all trainees from the "Dickel" battalion. The IDF is investigating the possibility of sniper fire accompanying the explosion. Additionally, Samaria Council head Yossi Dagan advocated for a voluntary immigration plan from Gaza and Judah and Samaria during an event in Peduel on September 18th, 2025, stating that "No Plastic State will rise." This statement was shared on social media by Gila Gamliel. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades had previously issued a statement warning of a "harsh war of attrition" in Gaza and threatening the lives of Israeli prisoners. According to COGAT, nearly 10,000 trucks of aid, totaling over 144,000 tons, have been transferred from Jordan to Gaza since the start of the war, representing approximately 7% of all aid deliveries.
