Jordan condemns killing of Palestinian toddler in Israeli settler attack

AMMAN — Jordanians on Saturday continued protests against the killing of a Palestinian toddler in the West Bank village of Kafr Duma near Nablus.  

The toddler was burnt to death in an arson attack by Israeli settlers on homes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, sparking clashes in which a teenager was shot and died Saturday.

Friday’s arson attack, which also critically wounded the toddler’s parents and brother, sparked protests and initiated strong condemnation in Jordan. 

MPs, unionists and political party members taking part in a sit-in in Amman on Saturday carried placards with slogans denouncing the occupation and practices of Israeli settlers, calling for supporting the Palestinian people and condemning the silence to Israeli crimes. 

Jordan Engineers Association President Majid Tabaa called for speedy intervention and practical steps to “deter the terrorism of the Israeli occupation”. 

Moreover, the Lower House on Saturday denounced the arson crime committed by “herds” of Israeli settlers against Palestinian Ali Dawabsheh, pointing out that the “daily Israeli crimes” against Palestinian land, people and holy sites reveal “the true face of the occupying force”, in violation of all laws, international conventions, values and human rights. 

The House called on all Arab and international governments, parliaments and human right entities to work immediately to stop Israel’s repeated attacks and violations of human rights, demanding that settlers and criminal perpetrators be brought to justice. 

The Chamber also called on the international community to provide protection for the Palestinians and to pressure Israeli authorities into returning to peace negotiations. 

In a tweet on Friday, Her Majesty Queen Rania said: “It’s unconscionable that an innocent baby has to pay with his life for the world’s ongoing indifference to the Palestinian Israeli conflict.” 

Also on Friday, the government strongly denounced the “ugly crime” by the Israeli settlers, killing the18-month-old baby. 

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said this crime would not have happened if the Israeli government had not persisted in denying the Palestinian people of their rights and if it had not turned its back on peace. 

Momani, who is also the government’s spokesperson, held the Israeli government — the occupying force of the Palestinian territories — responsible for this “heinous crime” and for acts of aggression against the Palestinian people.

Criticising Israel, the spokesperson said Tel Aviv’s top priorities are settlement expansion and denying the Palestinians their legitimate rights.   

Several local entities, including Jordan’s Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre, Amman Chamber of Commerce, and the Jordanian women parliamentarians’ forum denounced the attack on Saturday.