Jordan has refuted the allegations that it has allowed a land bridge for the passage of goods from the Gulf countries to Israel, amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza. The Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh said that the rumors were aimed at undermining Jordan’s stance and solidarity with the Palestinians.
In a speech at an economic forum in Amman on Sunday, Al-Khasawneh said that there was no land or sea bridge from Jordan to Israel, and that the transportation system in Jordan had not changed for more than 25 years. He said that the Israeli attacks on Gaza had negative impacts on the Jordanian economy, as they increased the shipping costs and disrupted the trade routes in the region.
He also said that Jordan would not remain silent in the face of fabricated stories against it, and that it was a disgrace for anyone to question the Jordanian position, which was consistent with the official and popular views. He affirmed that Jordan had paid a price for its adherence to its principles and its support for the Palestinian cause.
Protests Against Land Bridge
The allegations of a land bridge from Jordan to Israel emerged in December 2023, when some Israeli media outlets and social media platforms claimed that Israel had found an alternative route to the Red Sea, which was blocked by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who had attacked several Israeli-linked ships in protest of the war on Gaza. The alleged route involved transporting goods from the ports of Dubai, through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, to Israel.
The claims sparked protests in Jordan, where demonstrators demanded the government to stop the passage of export trucks to Israel, and to end what they called the land bridge that supplied the occupation with goods from the Gulf. The protesters also chanted slogans against the normalization of ties with Israel, and expressed their solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Jordan and Israel have had a peace treaty since 1994, and there are three border crossings between them: Sheikh Hussein, King Hussein Bridge, and Wadi Araba. However, the relations between the two countries have been strained by the Israeli violations of the rights and the holy sites of the Palestinians, especially in Jerusalem and Gaza.
Jordan’s Support for Gaza
Jordan has been one of the most vocal and active countries in supporting the Gaza Strip, which has been under a brutal Israeli siege and bombardment since October 7, 2023. The Israeli war on Gaza has killed more than 29,690 people, wounded more than 69,870, and displaced more than 85% of the population, according to the UN. The war has also caused massive destruction and shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity in the enclave.
Jordan has sent several aid convoys and medical teams to Gaza, through the King Hussein Bridge, and has opened its hospitals to receive the wounded Palestinians. Jordan has also coordinated with Egypt and other countries to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and fuel to Gaza. Jordan has also used its diplomatic channels and its membership in the UN Security Council to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and violations of international law.
