Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers, Lt. Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh, 68, from Jerusalem, and Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20, from Tel Mond, were killed on September 18th, 2025, when a Jordanian national driving a humanitarian aid truck opened fire and then stabbed them at the Allenby Crossing. The attack, which occurred earlier today, has led to an IDF recommendation to temporarily halt aid entry from Jordan. 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 stated by the IDF. The IDF indicated 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 assailant, a Jordanian national, arrived from Jordan, opening fire before his weapon jammed, prompting him to resort to stabbing. Harosh's son, who was on active reserve duty near the crossing, rushed to the scene upon hearing about the attack and confirmed his father's death, according to a report from Amit Segal. 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. 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. 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. 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."
