"We consider him a martyr for Gaza," says father of Maher who killed three Israeli guards

The father of Maher Dhiab Hussein al-Jazi, a man who shot and killed three Israeli security guards near the Allenby Bridge border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, praised his son's actions and considered him a "martyr for Islam, for Gaza, for Jerusalem".

"It was his own choice. He left for the borders on his own accord without taking anything. And what happened had happened. God willing, we consider him a martyr for Islam, for Gaza, for Jerusalem. Maher has become a martyr for the sake of God, God willing," he said while talking to Roya News.

He revealed that his son acted alone and had no connection to Hamas or any other Palestinian resistance groups.

"Maher started his life in the military and retired from the army. After retirement, he worked as a truck driver. He has no connections or external agenda to Hamas or anyone else. This was an individual act and it was his own choice. Even, we had nothing to do with it and we had no idea."

The family is now seeking the return of Maher's body to carry out his funeral procession.

"We just ask for the return of his corpse," he concluded.

The Israeli military reported that the attacker arrived at the crossing from Jordan in a truck on Sunday morning and opened fire at the border guards, killing three Israeli civilians who were working as security guards. 

Following the attack, the Israeli military had "eliminated" Maher at the spot.

Israel's military offensives in Gaza since Oct 7 have resulted in devastating losses, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed, including 16,456 children and 11,000 women.