Angry Jordanians block UAE trucks from entering Israel
Large swathes of angry Jordanians formed a human barrier in an attempt to obstruct lorries carrying goods to Israel, Middle East Eye reported.
This was an act of protest at the country’s involvement in the Dubai-Haifa corridor which marries the Emirati capital’s port to the northern Israeli city’s port via roads passing through Jordan as well as Saudi Arabia.
Over recent months, Jordanians have voiced their displeasure at any form of ties with the Israeli state as the country has carried out an unparalleled onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip and there are fears that worse is yet to come.
A protest took place on February 14 close to the Na’ima Bridge on the highway leading to the northern Jordanian city of Irbid and yet more demonstrations are expected to take place.
Goods deliveries by road have been key for Israel given that Iran-backed Yemeni rebels Houthis have been targeting Israeli ships as well as the state’s western allies in the Red Sea since mid-November last year.
This has resulted in shipping companies stopping their activities in the Red Sea, which accounts for roughly 12% of global maritime trade.
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The Yemeni militants, a Hamas ally, have been carrying out these attacks in what they say is solidarity with the people of Palestine – notably Gaza which has caused fears worldwide that the conflict in the region is expanding beyond control.
Although Jordan’s security forces stopped protests near the border with Israel, activists continued their protests, marching and carrying out sit ins at a land bridge in the capital Amman on February 16.
Bearing Palestinian flags, the protestors’ main message was that a land corridor to Gaza was required and strictly not one for Israel.
Aid convoys attempting to reach Gaza to deliver much needed aid have often been met with obstructive and angry mobs.
Fearing for their safety, the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN affiliated agency, announced that they were pausing the delivery of food to the enclave’s northern part which is home to around 300,000 desperate Palestinians.
Local media reported that the recent protests were organised by the National Forum to Support Resistance, Protecting the Nation and the Islamic Movement.
Middle East Eye
