Three Hadash-Ta’al lawmakers met Monday, March 4, with Jordan’s King Abdullah amid concerns that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan could amplify tensions in occupied East Jerusalem stemming from the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip. MK Ayman Odeh, the head of the parliamentary Hadash-Ta’al alliance, MKs Ahmad Tibi and Youssef Atawneh traveled to Amman and asked the Jordanian monarch to pressure Israel to ensure freedom of worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

King Abdullah emphasized the urgent need for maximum efforts to achieve an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the protection of civilians, reaffirming Jordan’s commitment to advocating for an end to the conflict and providing humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to Gaza via both land and air routes.

Jordan’s King Abdullah (right) speaks with Hadash-Ta’al head Ayman Odeh and MKs Ahmad Tibi and Youssef Atawneh in Amman, Jordan, March 4, 2024 (Photo: Royal Hashemite Court)

Abdullah reportedly warned the lawmakers of “extremists in the Israeli government that are trying to ignite the region through provocations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The monarchy said in an official statement that Abdullah warned “of the continuation of the war on Gaza and escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, which will expand the conflict” in the meeting. According to newspapers in Amman, the king also “stressed the need to stop the unilateral measures at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the need for cooperation with all relevant parties to prevent and curb escalation, and warned against settler violence against the Palestinians in the West Bank.”

Last week racist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has sought to impose sweeping restrictions on occupied West Bank Palestinians’ ability to pray at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, citing the security situation. He is reportedly also pushing to limit Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel. The Israeli press reported that Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai had agreed to recommend restrictions on worshipers attending prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31613