A recent report by Middle East Eye has revealed that Jordan is prepared for war if Palestinians are forcibly displaced to its territory.
According to informed sources in Amman and Jerusalem, Jordan’s leadership strongly prefers a peaceful resolution but is firm in its stance that the borders will be sealed should an influx of Palestinian refugees attempt to cross.
One source stated unequivocally: “If the Israelis attempt to reopen the border by force, it will be considered an act of war.”
Jordan’s Red Line
This warning follows repeated remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that Jordan and Egypt should absorb Palestinian refugees as part of what he termed the “cleansing” of Gaza.
Middle East Eye reports that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with a forced expulsion of Palestinians into Jordan, Amman is prepared to declare war on Israel.
Although Jordan does not harbor illusions of military superiority over Israel, officials believe they have no choice but to resist. The Jordanian government has already deployed additional military brigades along its western border, signaling its preparedness for a confrontation if Palestinian displacement efforts proceed.
Jordan considers any attempt to forcibly relocate Palestinians across its borders a direct violation of its 1994 peace treaty with Israel. In response, Israel has formed a new Eastern Corps to reinforce security along the Jordanian border.
Jordan’s Existential Concerns
A Jordanian source described Trump’s proposal as an “existential threat” to both the Hashemite monarchy and the country itself. Jordan, home to over 12 million people, is already struggling with severe water scarcity and economic challenges.
Most of Jordan’s population resides in a narrow strip along the Jordan River, adjacent to Israel, making it impossible for the country to accommodate a mass influx of refugees.
Strategic and Military Implications
While Israel’s military superiority is unquestionable, maintaining control over a 400-kilometer-long border in rugged and mountainous terrain would be an enormous challenge. Unlike Gaza, which has a much shorter border, Jordan’s landscape could facilitate extended guerrilla warfare, reminiscent of the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan that ultimately forced U.S. withdrawals.
A regional conflict could also draw fighters from Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab nations, further complicating Israel’s military strategy.
Jordan has historically served as a stabilizing force along Israel’s eastern border—a stability that could collapse overnight if war erupts.
Tense Jordan-Israel Relations
Jordan’s relations with Israel have been increasingly strained due to Israeli aggression in Gaza, settler violence, and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the West Bank.
In October 2023, amid the latest Israeli offensive in Gaza, King Abdullah II of Jordan declared:
“The forced displacement of Palestinians into Jordan is a red line we will not allow to be crossed.”
Despite this, Trump continued pushing for Jordan to accept more refugees, reportedly telling King Abdullah:
“I want you to take more.”
Arab World’s Rejection of Forced Displacement
During a Cairo summit, diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar collectively rejected any forced ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Their joint statement emphasized:
“We categorically reject any attempt to deprive Palestinians of their legitimate rights—whether through illegal settlements, expulsions, annexations, or forced displacement under any circumstances.”
Historical Parallels and Concerns for Jordan’s Stability
Jordan’s history is deeply intertwined with Palestinian displacement. The influx of refugees following the Nakba (1948) and the Naksa (1967) led to the Black September conflict in 1970, when the Hashemite monarchy crushed armed Palestinian factions fearing they would attempt to overthrow the state.
Jordanian officials fear that another large wave of refugees could destabilize the country once again. With rising public anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza, the arrival of thousands more Palestinian refugees from Gaza and the West Bank could push Jordan towards internal unrest.
The Threat to Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem’s Holy Sites
Jordan, as the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, also considers any Israeli attempt to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque or Dome of the Rock to be a direct provocation for war.
Far-right Israeli factions have long advocated for the destruction of Al-Aqsa to make way for the Third Jewish Temple—a move that newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has recklessly endorsed.
If Israel attempts to proceed with such actions, sources warn that it could ignite a regional conflict of catastrophic proportions.
