Jordan Sentences Young Man to 7 Years for Allegedly Planning Anti-Israel Operation

A Jordanian court has sentenced 22-year-old Yusuf Tawfiq Al-Bustanji to seven years in prison on charges of attempting to infiltrate into occupied Palestine with the intent to carry out an operation against Israeli forces.

Al-Bustanji, originally from the city of Karak, was arrested in October 2024 in the Southern Shouneh region, and referred to Jordan’s State Security Court — a controversial body that handles terrorism-related cases — on accusations of “illegal border crossing” and planning military action against Israel.

The verdict triggered widespread attention across Jordan and Palestine, with many expressing solidarity with the young man and hailing him as a symbol of resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Human Rights Concerns Over Trial and Sentence

Several human rights organisations have voiced concerns over the ruling, warning against the use of anti-terrorism laws to suppress individual freedoms or criminalise pro-resistance sentiments. They called for guarantees of a fair and transparent trial, raising questions about the broader political implications of prosecuting anti-occupation sympathisers.

Al-Bustanji’s family hails from Dura, near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, though they have lived in Jordan for generations. Their ancestral roots trace back to Beit Lahia in Gaza, with the family settling in Jordan nearly 150 years ago. Today, branches of the family live in areas such as Manshiyat Abu Hamour (Karak), Al-Qaisiya (West Amman), and Al-Tayyibah (East Amman).

Tensions Around Border Protests Escalate

Just days before the sentencing, Jordanian security forces blocked demonstrators from marching toward the border with occupied Palestine. The protests were organised by the National Forum for the Support of Resistance, in response to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

Security forces reportedly sealed all exits from Amman leading to the Jordan Valley, detaining several demonstrators including Islamic movement leaders and activists. The protest was aimed at expressing solidarity with Gaza and rejecting normalisation with Israel.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that dozens were arrested in the Jordan Valley area, and that security forces used force to disperse crowds. Among the detainees were prominent figures, including a senior member of the Islamic Action Front’s executive bureau. Authorities also attempted to detain the party’s Secretary-General, Wael Al-Saqqa, and its General Overseer, Murad Al-Adayleh.

Opposition Condemns Government Crackdown

In a public statement, the Islamic Action Front Party condemned the security crackdown, labelling it a violation of political expression and a betrayal of national solidarity with Gaza. The party demanded:

• • An end to the security-first approach toward pro-Palestinian movements,

• • The immediate release of all political detainees,

• • A shift in government policy to treat the Palestinian solidarity movement as a strategic asset for Jordan, not a threat.

The statement warned against the ongoing incitement and media demonisation of peaceful resistance movements that oppose the Israeli occupation and support Palestinian liberation.

Regional Context: Repression vs. Resistance

The case of Yusuf Al-Bustanji — coupled with the Jordanian state’s escalating crackdown on border protests — reflects the tense balancing act Jordanian authorities are trying to maintain between domestic public opinion, which is overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian, and regional diplomatic ties, particularly with Israel and Western powers.

As Israel’s war on Gaza enters its 18th month, Jordan’s domestic scene remains volatile, and public discontent over official policies appears to be deepening. The criminalisation of resistance-linked acts — even symbolic ones — is likely to stoke further unrest and raise uncomfortable questions about the cost of political alignment at the expense of national sentiment.

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