Jordan's military said Sunday that it had detained a person who attempted to swim into the kingdom from Israel through the Red Sea a day earlier. Israeli authorities confirmed several hours later that the man had been released and returned home.
In a statement attributed to a military source, the Jordanian Armed Forces said the Royal Jordanian Navy on Saturday spotted an individual "attempting to infiltrate from the Israeli side by swimming toward Jordanian territorial waters." The incident occurred in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba.
According to the Jordanian statement, navy forces apprehended the man at sea and "transferred him to the relevant authorities."
The Israel Defense Forces said it had received a report of the incident and that Israeli security authorities "have been working through the relevant channels to ensure his safe return."
The Israeli military also issued a warning in its statement. "The IDF emphasizes that crossing the border into Jordan outside an authorized border crossing is prohibited, poses a danger to Israeli citizens, and constitutes a violation of the law," it said.
Hours later, the army announced that "the civilian was safely transferred to IDF troops a short time ago." Israel's Foreign Ministry told The Times of Israel that "the Department for Israelis Abroad and the Israeli consul in Jordan worked hard and with great determination, alongside additional parties, to bring the citizen home quickly, and they welcome his return."
News of the swimming incident first emerged hours after the IDF said it had foiled an attempted illegal crossing in the opposite direction. Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, troops detained six suspects who crossed from Jordan into Israeli territory, according to the military.
An initial army investigation found the six were work migrants, and they were handed over to law enforcement for further questioning. The Ynet news outlet reported that the suspects hold Turkish and Sri Lankan citizenship.
Unlike cases of Israelis illegally entering other neighboring countries, Israel and Jordan maintain full diplomatic relations, and Israelis can visit Jordan through three main land border crossings. Two of those crossings issue tourist visas to Israelis on the spot, while Jordanians seeking to enter Israel must secure a visa in advance.
Illegal crossings between the two countries are rare but do occur. In September 2025, two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack near the Allenby Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, carried out by a Jordanian assailant who had been driving a humanitarian aid truck bound for the Gaza Strip.
