Prof. Khalaf Al-Tahat

Once again, the Palestinian movement Hamas attempts to blur the lines between legitimate resistance and gambling—between popular solidarity and cross-border security transgressions, and between support for Palestine and the destabilization of sovereign states. Hamas's demand that Jordanian authorities "immediately release" suspects—who, according to security evidence, are involved in manufacturing missiles and drones inside Jordanian territory—is not only a violation of sovereignty, but also a stark affront to a well-established state built on institutions and the rule of law.

Attempting to justify this involvement as "support for Palestine" is a blatant manipulation of national and religious sentiments, and an attempt to politicize a security-related criminal case concerning the safety of a sovereign state that has not and will not allow its territory to be transformed into a platform for reckless adventures. Jordan, which has historically stood with the Palestinian people, needs no lessons in nationalism or solidarity. But it also will not accept that its internal security be used as a tool for irresponsible partisan agendas, for which the people pay the price.

Hamas, which daily forces the Palestinian people into narrow calculations and the illusion of a "media victory," is once again falling into the illusion that countries are governed by the same mentality as factions and organizations. Jordan is not a theater for security chaos, nor an open arena for missile testing and tampering with national sovereignty, and its security will not be compromised for the sake of populist slogans.

Yes, supporting the resistance is a national and moral duty—but not at the expense of Jordan’s security and stability. Resistance does not equate to the clandestine production of weapons within the territory of a neighboring and sovereign state. Such actions are serious transgressions of international laws, mutual interests, and regional norms. Conflating solidarity with illegal and militarized activity empties the Palestinian cause of its ethical foundation and damages its credibility on the global stage.

What is particularly alarming about Hamas' statement is its complete disregard for Jordanian sovereignty and the kingdom’s legitimate right to safeguard its national security. Has national sovereignty now become a mere footnote in the vocabulary of factions and non-state actors? Is Jordan expected to turn a blind eye to serious security violations under the pretext of Israeli aggression?

Jordan is no fragile state—it is a mature, rule-based nation governed by institutions that operate according to the principles of statehood, not the logic of closed-door factionalism. Its security apparatus is not driven by sectarian motives nor arbitrary repression; it operates based on verified intelligence, independent investigations, and judicial oversight.

Moreover, this latest interference from Hamas is not an isolated incident. It is part of a recurring pattern of incitement and provocation by certain elements within the movement, whether overt or covert, aimed at stirring unrest in Jordan. Repeated calls—disguised as support for Gaza or solidarity with the resistance—have been made to Jordanian tribes and citizens to take to the streets or engage in protest. These are nothing more than transparent attempts to exploit the deep-rooted Jordanian support for Palestine, turning it into a tool for internal pressure against the Jordanian state.

Hamas’ contradictory messaging—simultaneously seeking Jordan’s support while planting seeds of incitement and veiled threats—is both an insult to the intelligence of Jordanians and a degradation of Jordanian-Palestinian relations. True support does not come through sowing chaos or fomenting unrest; it comes through coordination with and respect for the Jordanian state—a state that has never wavered in its political, humanitarian, and logistical support for the Palestinian people.

Portraying any Jordanian legal or security action in response to a serious and verified violation as an "attack on the resistance" is nothing but an attempt to deflect responsibility and hide behind the rhetoric of victimhood. Is destabilizing Jordan truly a form of support for Gaza? Is stoking internal tension in a state that has always stood by Palestinians really a form of solidarity?

Jordan's response must be firm and unequivocal: The Kingdom is not susceptible to populist blackmail, nor can anyone outdo its historic and principled support for the Palestinian cause. Yet at the same time, no party—regardless of its slogans or affiliations—will be permitted to compromise its internal security or transform its territory into a launchpad for foreign agendas.

In conclusion, it is time for Hamas and other Palestinian factions to realize that Jordan is not a backyard for anyone’s influence, nor an extension of any movement’s domain. It is a sovereign nation, committed to preserving its dignity, upholding its stability, and defending its interests—against all who may seek to undermine them, regardless of the banners under which they operate.