Thousands of protesters surround Israeli embassy for fourth consecutive day
Mohammed al-Abssi is one of thousands of Jordanians who have been surrounding the Israeli embassy in Amman for the last four days.
He is clear about their intentions. “Our protests will continue until the war on Gaza comes to an end,” he told Middle East Eye. “The protests are expanding to other cities and governorates. We will call for demonstrations in multiple locations.”
Yesterday marked the fourth consecutive day that thousands of protesters have come out on to the streets of the Jordanian capital to surround the Israeli embassy, demanding its closure. Young demonstrators tried to breach the security cordon established around the complex by Jordanian security forces, resulting in the arrest of approximately 200 protesters.
While the embassy is currently without a diplomatic mission, after Israel’s ambassador left Amman in October and Jordan recalled its ambassador in November in protest at the ongoing war in Gaza, al-Abssi said that protesters “have heard that the embassy has partially resumed operations”.
Jordanian security forces and gendarmerie have forcefully prevented protesters from reaching the embassy compound in the Rabia neighbourhood of Amman. Demonstrators have gathered in the vicinity of the square next to Kalouti Mosque, approximately two kilometres from the embassy, and other areas close by.
Protests have escalated significantly since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza. The National Forum for Supporting Resistance, a coalition of political parties and activists, has been one of the organisers.
Al-Abssi, a participant in the protests and a member of the Ataharrak movement against normalisation with Israel, said the siege of the embassy is part of a series of Jordanian protests that have not ceased since 7 October.
“The siege of the embassy has intensified in response to the blockade of the Shifa complex and al-Aqsa Mosque,” he said.
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