Jordanians demonstrate in support of Palestinians

AMMAN — Around 100 Jordanians participated in a demonstration in Amman on Friday in support of Palestinian resistance efforts and in solidarity with Al Aqsa Mosque. 

Participants gathered outside the Professional Associations Complex (PAC) in Shmeisani and marched towards the Prime Ministry, but security forces prevented them from reaching their final destination. 

The demonstrators marched while holding a huge Palestinian flag and raised banners bearing slogans in solidarity with Palestine and condemning the Israeli aggression. 

They also burned the Israeli flag. 

Mary Nazzal-Batayneh, a human rights lawyer, said participants wanted to show that the Palestinians are not alone.

“Palestinians living under the Israeli colonial apartheid regime have chosen to go to the streets to demand their rights. It’s the responsibility of those not living under Israeli oppression to do what they can to support the Palestinian struggle,” she said.

“Today [Friday] we say no to the gas deal with Israel and yes to a boycott,” Nazzal-Batayneh added.

Khaled Ramadan, another activist participating in the march, said the Palestinian resistance needs a supportive stance from the Arab world. 

“We want to send a message to the Jordanian government that it must recall our ambassador from occupied Palestine and expel the Zionist ambassador,” he told The Jordan Times outside the PAC. 

Yousef Ayesh, a member of a professional association, said the demonstration expresses the Jordanian people’s anger in response to steps to partition Al Haram Al Sharif/Al Aqsa Mosque. 

“This is our way to offer moral support for the Palestinians, who are struggling to defend themselves,” he added.   

Ayesh noted that Jordan is doing its best in the political area to support the Palestinian people. 

Meanwhile, a rally that was scheduled to be held by the public committee for supporting Al Aqsa Mosque at a plot of land near a hotel in Amman was cancelled by security forces. Scores of people went to the location and then left the area peacefully. 

Abdullah Obeidat, the head of the committee, said in a statement sent to The Jordan Times that the event was cancelled by Amman Governor Khaled Abu Zaid.

On Thursday, a weekly protest held outside Kalouti Mosque near the Israeli embassy in Amman was dispersed by security forces, according to media reports. 

A number of other activities and demonstrations were held at several locations across the Kingdom, including Amman’s Wihdat Camp, Karak, Tafileh and Zarqa, in solidarity with Al Aqsa Mosque and condemnation of the international community’s silence regarding Israeli crimes against Palestinians, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.