The Israeli-controlled Allenby Crossing (or King Hussein Bridge) connecting the occupied West Bank and Jordan is facing an
"unprecedented"
influx of travelers , a Jordanian official said on Tuesday.
The number of people seeking to cross from Jordan is
"around 6,000 to 7,000"
per day, the bridge's security officer, Colonel Raafat Maaytah, told AFP on Tuesday.
He denounces the Israeli authorities who only authorized the entry of some
"4,000 to 4,500"
passengers.
Easing of restrictions
“This unprecedented increase in the number of travelers compared to previous years”
is explained by the easing of restrictions linked to Covid-19, the recent Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and the Eid al-Adha holiday. marking its end.
There are a number of official crossings between Israel and Jordan, which signed a peace treaty in 1994. Palestinians can only use the Allenby crossing with the West Bank, territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
Israel, the Palestinians and Washington announced during US President Joe Biden's visit to the region last week that the United States would provide assistance to allow the crossing to remain open 24 hours a day, after Moroccan mediation on the question.
According to the media, the extension of hours should come into effect from September.
The crossing has been used by more than a million travelers since the beginning of the year, according to the Jordanian authorities.