jordan pulse -

Dr. Mahmoud Awad Al-Dabbas

Jordanian social media erupted on Wednesday evening (15 January 2025) over the absence of any acknowledgment from a Hamas leader for Jordan's efforts during the events of "Al-Aqsa Flood" since October 2023, culminating in the recently announced ceasefire agreement.

Personally, I was not affected by this omission, as similar instances occurred with previous Palestinian leaders from other factions over the years. But why wasn’t I impacted? The simple answer is that we have achieved what we wanted during this period.

From the outset, accurate and undisclosed analyses indicated that Hamas could not defeat Israel. As a resistance movement, its role is to obstruct the occupier’s objectives rather than achieve outright military victory.

For analytical purposes, it is essential to review Jordan’s relationship with Hamas from October 2023 to the announcement of the ceasefire yesterday. This relationship can be divided into three dynamics: direct alignment, indirect alignment, and divergence.

Direct Alignment

Jordan refrained from condemning the "Al-Aqsa Flood" despite international pressure from major pro-Israel countries. Jordan expanded this alignment by adopting the stance that Hamas is an idea, and ideas do not die as long as their causes persist.

Indirect Alignment

Jordan aimed to save the people of Gaza from their dire circumstances caused by continued aggression. It maintained an air bridge, involving Western countries, to deliver aid to Gaza, circumventing Israeli obstruction. Furthermore, Jordan leveraged international platforms, with King Abdullah II and the Foreign Minister spearheading official attacks on Israeli policies.

Divergence

Jordan opposed turning its territory into a battleground between Iran, a Hamas ally, and Israel. Similarly, Jordan rejected Hamas leaders directly addressing its populace or using Jordanian demonstrations and media to advance their vision of the conflict.

Strategic Outlook

Jordan recognized that Israel’s success in forcibly displacing Gazans would threaten the West Bank, presenting a direct existential danger to Jordan. Thus, Jordan's primary interest was to thwart Israel's goal of displacing Gaza’s population. This was achieved through the resilience of Gaza’s residents, who made unparalleled sacrifices.

Looking ahead, the destruction in Gaza, coupled with Iran’s diminished capacity to challenge Israel after its setbacks in Lebanon and Syria, makes a repeat of “Al-Aqsa Flood” unlikely.

In conclusion, seeking gratitude from political entities for direct or indirect support is unnecessary. What matters is achieving national security goals. Jordan succeeded in thwarting the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, reinforcing the resilience of the West Bank population—a key pillar of Jordan’s national interests, championed by the King and state institutions.