Jordan and Hamas may reconcile to confront Israel

Jordan and Hamas may be on the verge of reconciliation in the ongoing confrontation with the occupation state of Israel, Anadolu has reported. This was evident during the latest Israeli assault on Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, with Amman expressing its keenness to defend the people of occupied Palestine.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasised this in a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, held in Amman in May. The Hashemite Kingdom, he said, has been in touch with Hamas on this issue.

King Abdullah said a few days ago that there could be a “conspiracy” being hatched against Jordan and the Palestinian cause to neutralise the Kingdom’s role in what Jordanians view as an integral part of their identity.

Aside from their shared border, Jordan and Palestine are linked by the fact that a large proportion of the Kingdom’s population are of Palestinian origin. Moreover, around two million Palestinian refugees live in ten UN camps within Jordan.

According to Ahmed Said Nofal, an expert on Palestinian and Israeli affairs, “The circumstances that prevented the Jordanian government and Hamas from communicating no longer exist because the aggression against Gaza imposed new facts on the ground, which necessitate opening a new page with the movement.”

Hamas to US: Israel has to end its occupation of Palestine

The professor of political science attributed these developments to the fact that Hamas represents the people on the street due to its defence of occupied Jerusalem and the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa in the Old City. Officially, Al-Aqsa is under Jordan’s guardianship. By defending the sanctuary, Hamas has essentially supported the Kingdom in its role.

The Ministry of Religious Endowments in Amman has the responsibility for the holy sites in Jerusalem, a position that was unchanged by the Israeli occupation in 1967. “The Jordanian government is aware that Hamas enjoys great popularity, particularly due to the movement’s resistance against the Israeli aggression, which means that it is convenient for Jordan to rebuild the relationship,” explained Nofal.

“In the event that Palestinian presidential and legislative elections go ahead, there is a strong conviction that Hamas will win.” Having links with those who can control the situation on the ground would be important for Jordan, he added. “Powerful countries, including the Europeans and the US, have started to discuss the possibility of relations with Hamas, which requires Jordan to be proactive, given its historical connection to the Palestinian cause.”