Thousands Protest Near Israeli Embassy in Amman: Demanding an End to Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty
Thousands of Jordanians protested near the Israeli Embassy in Amman for the fifth day, demanding an end to the peace treaty with Israel.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, chanted "No Zionist embassy on Jordanian land," and called themselves "Hamas." They also called Amman and Gaza "one destiny" and displayed posters of Hamas military spokesman Abu Obaida.
The Israeli Embassy, a long-standing flashpoint for Palestinian-Israeli violence, was the focus of their demands to close the embassy and terminate the 1994 peace treaty.
Hundreds of protesters in Jordan peacefully rallied against Israel's Gaza bombing campaign, despite heavy security and previous violent clashes.
Some demonstrators defied police orders and sat on the streets, vowing to stay until Friday morning.
Jordanian authorities have been criticized by international rights groups for arrests and harassment of demonstrators.
Passions have been heightened among Jordanians, many of Palestinian origin, due to the high civilian death toll and destruction in Gaza.
Jordan has experienced significant public protests since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began in October, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages taken, according to Israeli estimates.
The government permits peaceful demonstrations but will not tolerate any attempts to use the anger towards Israel to cause chaos or approach the Israeli-occupied West Bank or Israel border.
Jordan's peace treaty with Israel is widely criticized by many citizens who believe normalization with Israel goes against the rights of their Palestinian compatriots.