Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood has placed itself under intense scrutiny, sparking public and official anger and raising concerns by violating the constitution and law, crossing political lines, and stepping outside the bounds of democracy. This followed an incident where armed members of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood infiltrated the border south of the Dead Sea in an attempt to target Israeli soldiers. The organization, which operates within governments under the umbrella of politics and democracy, ventured into areas unacceptable to governments and unrecognized by constitutions and laws—specifically, engaging in armed activities that do not respect borders or international or local laws.
Following widespread Jordanian outrage and controversy over the infiltration and Israel’s endorsement of the attempt to target soldiers south of the Dead Sea on Friday, the Brotherhood in Jordan retracted its initial statement, which had praised the operation carried out by two Jordanian youths affiliated with the Islamic movement, the political arm of the organization. In a second statement, the group described it as an “individual act by young Jordanians.” A responsible military source from the Jordanian Armed Forces’ General Command denied the circulating news that Jordanian soldiers had crossed the western border of the kingdom. The source explained that the Jordanian Armed Forces are monitoring the developments and emphasized the importance of receiving information from official sources and avoiding the spread of rumors and misleading news. However, the Brotherhood’s spokesperson in Jordan, Moath Al-Khawaldeh, confirmed to AFP that the two men were “members of the group and had always participated in activities supporting Gaza and the resistance.”
The second statement from the Brotherhood in Jordan was deliberately sent to foreign news agencies before Arab ones, carefully selecting words to consider internal dynamics first and regional factors second. It avoided assuming responsibility for planning or supporting the operation logistically. Meanwhile, the group sought to capitalize on the situation in Jordan by encouraging protests, gathering crowds, and opening a mourning house—tactics the Brotherhood is known for using to further their political objectives. This has been viewed as part of the Brotherhood’s regional alliances and agenda in Jordan. Dozens launched online campaigns against the Brotherhood, calling on the Jordanian government to ban the group, viewing their actions as implicit acknowledgment of forming armed militias within Jordan.
Former MP, minister, and ambassador Amoush, commenting on the party’s statement in a Facebook post, said: “I warn Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood against letting emotions override the nation’s security and stability. We all stand with Gaza and oppose the Zionists, but the situation is far more complex than we think.” Experts warned that the group might escalate beyond Jordan’s borders by inciting violence or dragging Jordan into chaos. They emphasized that it is reckless and irresponsible for any movement or group to plan or execute operations outside the nation’s borders, as Jordan is a sovereign state with a strong army that makes calculated political decisions regarding events in Gaza.
Experts also noted that the Muslim Brotherhood’s endorsement of the attack carried out by two of its members, starting from south of the Dead Sea, represents a profound shift in the group’s relationship with the Jordanian state. This relationship has historically been governed by a “neither war nor peace” approach, meaning the state does not view the Brotherhood as enemies nor allies. The experts added that the Brotherhood issued a statement more than 15 hours after the operation, claiming it was an individual act, following the publication of the attackers’ last messages and a statement from the Islamic Action Front party, which praised the operation in a manner reminiscent of Hamas’ support for Qassam Brigades’ operations in the West Bank.
