Protesters Chant Slogans Outside Israeli Embassy in Amman, Jordan

Protesters have been chanting slogans outside the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan on April 24, 2024. The protests in the Jordanian capital have been happening almost daily for the past few weeks, with protesters regularly marching to the Israeli Embassy. However, the protests are often met with police violence.

The protests came after 200 days since the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza. In a televised speech, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of Hamas' armed Al-Qassam Brigades, urges for an escalation across all fronts, praising Iran's attack on Israel on April 13 and calling for an escalation in the occupied West Bank and Jordan, which he described as "one of the most important Arab fronts." Ubaida also said Hamas was sticking to its demands at the ongoing ceasefire talks, comprising that Israel end its military offensive, pull out forces from Gaza, allow the displaced to return, and lift the blockade.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah condemned the Israeli acts and crimes in Gaza, stating they are violations of international law and constitute war crimes. Qudah urged the international community to take action and bring those responsible to justice, emphasizing the need to end the ongoing war in Gaza and provide humanitarian aid.

Why this matters: The protests in Jordan highlight the growing regional tensions and anger over Israel's military actions in Gaza. The urges for escalation by Hamas and the condemnation by Jordan underscore the potential for the conflict to spread beyond Gaza's borders, threatening wider stability in the Middle East.

The UN called for an international investigation into reports of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals destroyed by Israeli forces, stating that war crimes may have been committed. The UN rights office expressed horror at the destruction of Al Shifa and Nasser hospitals, and demanded independent investigations into the deaths, noting that "the intentional killing of civilians is a war crime."

Key Takeaways

• Protests in Amman, Jordan against Israeli aggression on Gaza, met with police violence.
• Hamas calls for escalation across all fronts, including West Bank and Jordan.
• Jordan condemns Israeli war crimes in Gaza, urges international action and accountability.
• UN calls for investigation into mass graves at Gaza hospitals, potential war crimes.
• Conflict in Gaza threatens wider regional stability in the Middle East.