Outrage grips Jordan after Israeli attack on Gaza hospital

AMMAN — Hundreds of protesters rallied on Wednesday near the Israeli and American embassies in Amman, voicing their outrage over an Israeli air strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital compound in the Gaza Strip Tuesday night that killed at least 500 Palestinians.

Many demonstrators, wearing the traditional Palestinian black and white and Jordanian red and white keffiyehs — chequered scarves —chanted slogans voicing their solidarity with Palestinian resistance.

The protesters, who staged several demonstrations throughout the day near both embassies, called on the Jordanian government to expel the American and Israeli ambassadors in Jordan.

The largest demonstration took place within the vicinity of Kalouti Mosque near the Israeli embassy.

Streets leading to both embassies were heavily guarded by police who blocked the roads leading to the two diplomatic missions in the capital.

Protesters were contained by the police in areas far from the two embassies, while motorists were rerouted to alternative roads.

Sixteen-year-old Omar Sharif, who was standing near Taj Mall, which is 1.3 kilometres away from the US embassy, said he showed up with other protesters to voice his anger over what is going on in the Gaza Strip.

“I was so angry and upset that I skipped school today and decided to show up here to protest my rejection of what is happening in the Gaza strip,” Sharif told The Jordan Times.

A 40-year-old woman, who preferred not to be identified, said she wanted to voice her solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“We reject all forms of atrocities that are being committed by the Israelis against the Palestinian people. That is why I am here today and every time there is a protest I will be there,” she told The Jordan Times.

The Israeli assaults on Gaza, for the ninth day, resulted in the deaths of over 3,400 Palestinians, including 1,000 children, according to a statement by Himam, a coalition of Jordanian civil society organisations,.

The Israeli aggression also led to the destruction of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure, healthcare facilities and services, depriving some 2 million people of clean water, food, medical supplies, fuel and causing displacement and power outages, the statement added.

Acts of riots were reported by police in the Rabia neighbourhood at night and several police officers were reportedly injured, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The acts of riots were caused “by a group of people who left their designated area and attempted to reach the [Israeli] embassy from a side road using rocks and Molotov cocktails”, Sartawi said.

“Several properties were attacked and set ablaze. Unfortunately, some of our officers were injured in the process and listed in good condition,” Sartawi said.

 The police official urged the public to abide by the security instructions and to cooperate with officers at the scene, who are there to protect them and ensure that they can peacefully express their opinions.