AMMAN — In what has become the most sweeping political arrest campaign in Jordan in recent decades, authorities have detained and interrogated hundreds of citizens over the past two months for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The campaign, led by the General Intelligence Department (GID), has targeted a wide range of individuals — including political activists, charity workers, and ordinary citizens — many of whom were involved in sending donations or other forms of humanitarian support to Gaza. Eyewitnesses, legal representatives, and several former detainees confirm that this crackdown has reached an unprecedented scale.
One detainee, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said,
“The interrogation made it clear — this wasn’t for Jordan. It was for Israel.”
Lawyers involved in several of the cases have reported that their clients were held without clear charges, and were questioned about their online posts, donation receipts, and participation in peaceful solidarity events. In many instances, suspects were detained for weeks, with their families given no explanation of their whereabouts.
Sources inside Jordan’s legal community suggest that the detentions are part of a coordinated effort driven by external pressure, particularly by Israeli intelligence interests, as Jordan attempts to balance its domestic policy with international alignments.
Analysts are describing this campaign as part of a growing pattern in the region, where pro-Palestine sentiment — even of a nonviolent, humanitarian nature — is being systematically suppressed under the banner of “security cooperation.”
Despite Jordan’s long-standing role in advocating for Palestinian rights and its historical position as custodian of Al–Aqsa Mosque, the current wave of arrests suggests an increasing disconnect between the state’s public positions and its internal security practices.
Legal experts and rights groups are warning that this campaign undermines constitutional freedoms, as well as Jordan’s own legal framework regarding political expression and humanitarian action. Calls for transparency and immediate release of those detained without charges are mounting.
As Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and regional tensions rise, Jordan’s clampdown on peaceful pro–Gaza expression raises pressing questions about sovereignty, civil liberties, and foreign influence over national policy.
