Daijiworld Media Network - Amman
Amman, Jul 16: In what is being described as the largest political crackdown in Jordan in decades, the country's General Intelligence Department (GID) has detained and interrogated hundreds of citizens over the past two months for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, according to multiple reports and testimonies gathered by Middle East Eye.
The arrests target activists and individuals suspected of sending financial or material support to Gaza, following Israel's ongoing military campaign. Detainees say they are interrogated without formal charges and warned not to speak about their detention. Many are released without explanation, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.
“This was done for Israel’s sake. Jordan had nothing to do with it,” said one detainee, speaking anonymously.
According to a Jordanian political source, the crackdown is also being driven by pressure from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in return for promised financial assistance. The arrests have affected people across the political spectrum, especially those connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), which won 31 seats in the last parliamentary elections.
Among those detained is 72-year-old former mayor Ahmed al-Zarqan, who has been held without charges since April. His family has been denied all access to him. The arrest prompted a rare public sit-in by tribesmen in Tafilah near the intelligence headquarters in Amman.
The crackdown also includes alleged beatings, with activist Hamza Bani Issa reportedly losing his eyesight after severe head injuries during detention. His mother, Arwa al-Tal, defied silence with a public video denouncing the abuse.
Others targeted include Khaled al-Juhani of the IAF, BDS campaign leader Hamza Khader, and party deputy Jamil Abu Bakr, all detained briefly and interrogated over their Gaza-related activism.
The arrest campaign escalated after an April GID statement claimed the dismantling of an “armed group” that allegedly planned to support Palestinian resistance, including running a missile factory in Zarqa and developing military drones. The claim drew ridicule online and was quickly placed under a media gag order.
Human rights advocates say the mass arrests, reminiscent of Jordan’s pre-1989 emergency law era, violate basic legal norms. Families of detainees remain in the dark, adding to growing public anger.
The government has yet to respond to mounting criticism, while international rights groups are calling for transparency, due process, and an end to arbitrary detentions.