An analysis of the Jordanian stance on the war on Gaza
Mohammed Al-Oudat / Al Jazeera Net
The Jordanian political position towards the Israeli occupation has been unambiguous since the first day of the events of October 7th and the aggression that followed, calling for an end to the assault on Gaza and condemning Israeli objectives that aim to depopulate the Gaza Strip. But how ought this position to be understood? What worries Jordan about this war, and why?
A Growing Position in Politics and Field
Jordan's stance toward Israeli tactics has been one of increasing escalation ever since the war on Gaza began. Jordan has seen firsthand that Israel wants to take advantage of the events of October 7th in order to accomplish significant political objectives and start a new stage in the annihilation of the Palestinian cause.
The goals of this conflict and the ideology of the Israeli right were known to the Jordanian regime. The monarch of Jordan proclaimed that any resolution that fails to return Palestinian rights to their rightful owners would only lead to more bloodshed and devastation. He also underlined his condemnation of any strategy relating to the displacement of Palestinians or Israel's reoccupation of Gaza. In the event that settler attacks against Palestinians persisted, he issued a warning against the escalation of events in the West Bank.
During the US Secretary of State's visit to the region, the monarch of Jordan apprised him of Jordan's rejection of any attempt to drive out Palestinians and the need to create safe passageways in Gaza for the delivery of aid, guaranteeing the stability of the Palestinian people in their land and avoiding forced relocation, as well as Jordan's rejection of Israel's practice of collective punishment in Gaza. In addition, Jordan said that Israel is committing war crimes by keeping food, water, and medication from reaching the people of Gaza and that it will support any stance that opposes displacement.
In addition, Queen Rania told Western media that Israel perpetrates heinous acts in the name of self-defense and emphasized that the Palestinian problem has been for 75 years and is about Palestinian suffering and oppression rather than beginning on October 7. Israeli and international human rights organizations categorize Israel as an apartheid state.
The Jordanian Foreign Minister, on the other hand, made more pointed remarks denouncing the Israeli occupation, saying that "talking beyond Gaza is a leap in the air" and that "Hamas is an idea."
The energy-for-water agreement, which was scheduled to be inked in October of last year, was put on hold, according to a statement released by Jordan. It said that Israel destroyed the atmosphere of tranquility in the area, dragged it into hell, and forced a widespread conflict there. Any attempt to drive out Palestinians would be considered an act of war against Jordan, and the "Wadi Araba" pact between Israel and Jordan is nothing more than a piece of paper that will eventually be forgotten.
The Jordanian army stationed itself in the western border areas between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, mobilizing tanks, personnel transports, and military reinforcements in tandem with these political declarations. This occurred following the distribution of guns to settlers in the West Bank settlements by Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir. These military maneuvers from Jordan's end were an announcement that they were prepared to go to war should there be a move to drive Palestinians out of the West Bank and into Jordan.
Alongside all of this, concrete actions were taken in Gaza and the West Bank to support Palestinians' survival against attempts at displacement. Several times, Jordan and the US worked together to supply medical supplies to the Jordanian field hospital, which has been operating in the northern Gaza area since 2009, via airdrop.
Additionally, Jordan denied Israeli orders to leave the hospital, accusing Israel of being behind any attempt to attack the facility and its personnel. Along with establishing a new field hospital in Nablus, the West Bank, following the escalation of events and the assault and siege of Palestinian cities and villages, Jordan also created a new field hospital in the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza. With the addition of a hospital in Ramallah that has been there since 2000, there are now three field hospitals in the West Bank.
Along with a hospital that has been operating in Jenin since 2002, food aid convoys have been deployed to the West Bank in anticipation of any events there that the ruling Israeli right may use to justify the expulsion of Palestinians from the region.
The "Wadi Araba" peace treaty between Israel and Jordan is unlikely to be revoked, with the exception of one specific scenario: the beginning of the Palestinian people's actual exodus from the West Bank.