AFP – A cross-border strike in October by two young Jordanians against Israeli soldiers is a sign of deep anger at the war in Gaza in a country with strong ties to the Palestinians.
“Jordanians are boiling with anger, this is undeniable,” said, head of the Amman-based Al Quds Centre for Political Studies.
It came just weeks after another strike by a Jordanian gunman at a border crossing with the occupied West Bank which killed three Israeli guards.
The two assailants in the most recent strike, Hussam Abu Ghazaleh and Amer Qawoos, had “always participated in events in solidarity with Gaza and in support of the resistance”, a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman recently told AFP.
While there have been protests, Rantawi said, many Jordanians want concrete action against Israel, such as suspending trade or cutting diplomatic ties.
“Some young people, particularly those from these movements, feel that protests alone are not enough,” he said.
Jordan, where about half of the population is of Palestinian origin, has yet to officially condemn the attack. But, Jordan Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said after the latest attack: “We will not be a place for strife or accept the risking of the future of this country, and we will not allow any party to replicate their models of chaos and destruction in our homeland.”
In 1994 Jordan became the second Arab country, after Egypt, to recognise Israel and establish diplomatic ties. Their shared border has remained largely calm since then.
Palestinian’s Hamas, which has been fighting Israeli forces in Gaza since October 7, called the latest strike “a significant development in the ongoing battle”.
It came just hours after Israel confirmed its forces in Gaza had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The cross-border strikes “highlight mounting pressure on ordinary Jordanians as a result of Israel’s escalating aggression with the United States’ continuous support”, said political analyst Labib Kamhawi.
He said “the anger is evident both at the public and official levels, with the Jordanian government frustrated by Israel’s aggressive behaviour”.
Amman has been “signalling that Jordan cannot ignore rising public outrage,” he added.
Many Jordanians saw the perpetrators of both attacks against Israel as martyred heroes, some even celebrating with sweets and fireworks in Amman.
Faced with widespread anger from its people, Jordan has been striving to bring a diplomatic end to the war in Gaza.
