Amman — Palestinian political forces, factions and broad sections of Palestinian society have strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack that targeted Hamoud Church in Karak Governorate, leaving a number of Jordanian martyrs and injured victims. Churches across Palestine also rang their bells on Tuesday in solidarity with Jordan.
Palestinian Ambassador to Jordan Atallah Khairi strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack targeting Jordanian citizens as they prayed inside the church during a funeral service. He described the attack as one of the most horrific forms of human crime, stressing that such criminal and destructive ideology has no connection whatsoever to religion, Islam or Muslims.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Khairi said terrorist groups and criminal gangs of killers pose a threat to all peoples and countries around the world, stressing that confronting, resisting and combating them is a collective international responsibility.
He affirmed that such cowardly acts would neither shake Jordan’s security nor undermine national unity, particularly as Jordanians of all backgrounds and components stand united like a solid structure and firmly rally around the Hashemite leadership. He noted that the terrorists had failed to achieve their objectives, just as they had failed in previous attempts.
Khairi stressed that the Palestinian people and leadership stand with Jordan — its King, government and people — with all their capabilities, emphasizing that Jordan’s security is an inseparable part of Palestine’s security. He described Jordan as the Palestinian people’s closest, most loyal and most sincere brother and strongest supporter of their cause and rights.
He said Palestinians have full confidence in the wisdom and courage of King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, as well as in the capabilities of the Jordanian Armed Forces and professional security agencies to confront terrorism, thwart its criminal plans and prevent it from harming Jordan’s strong, steadfast and resilient state, whose roots extend deep into history.
The Palestinian Presidential Committee for Church Affairs also condemned the terrorist attack, describing it as a heinous crime and a flagrant violation of the sanctity of places of worship and religious sites, as well as an assault on religious and humanitarian values.
The committee affirmed Palestine’s solidarity with Jordan in this painful ordeal, stressing that extremism does not target any particular group but threatens the security, stability and national unity of entire societies.
The Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and Holy Sites likewise condemned the attack, stressing that it would not undermine Islamic-Christian unity, which has always served as a strong barrier against attempts to damage the social fabric and sow discord among members of the same society.
The council noted that Jordan and Palestine represent a unique model of Muslim-Christian coexistence in the region and called for confronting terrorist ideology through all available means.
Ahmed Majdalani, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, condemned the terrorist act targeting the Karak church.
Majdalani affirmed the Palestinian people and leadership’s support for Jordan — its King, government and people — in confronting any suspicious attempt to destabilize the Kingdom’s security and stability. He stressed that any threat to Jordan’s security constitutes a threat to Palestinian national security.
He expressed confidence in Jordan’s ability to confront anyone seeking to undermine its security and stability, while offering condolences to the victims’ families, King Abdullah II, the government and the Jordanian people.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine also condemned the terrorist massacre that struck the Jordanian people in Karak, describing it as an extremely horrific act that could only have been committed by terrorists stripped of their humanity and driven by aggression above all other considerations.
The Democratic Front reaffirmed its support for Jordan and its commitment to the country’s safety, security and stability, reiterating the shared destiny of the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples at a highly turbulent time, as Israeli circles continue to beat the drums of war and threaten the region.
The Palestinian Scholars Association said targeting Jordanian Christians was an attack on society as a whole and that attempts to provoke discord among its members serve the interests of the Israeli occupation.
In a statement, the association said it was following “with profound pain and anger” the terrorist attack, describing it as a violation of the sanctity of human life and places of worship, as well as an assault on the security and unity of Jordanian society.
It stressed that targeting innocent people and shedding their blood inside places of worship are forbidden acts, emphasizing that attempts to give such crimes a religious character constitute a distortion and false representation of Islam and its message, while also fueling discord and hostility among members of the same society.
The association warned that attacks on Jordanian Christians do not target one particular group but affect Jordanian society as a whole. It said efforts to create divisions and tear apart the national and religious fabric serve the interests of the Israeli occupation, which is watching Jordan, Palestine and the wider region closely.
It stressed the need to confront attempts to spread division and hatred and to preserve Jordan’s unity, security and national and religious fabric. Every innocent life lost, it said, is a crime that must be condemned and held accountable, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the pretext used.
The association called on Muslims and Christians in Jordan to strengthen solidarity and unity, thwart attempts to spread division and hatred, and stand together against violence in order to safeguard the country’s security and the dignity of its people.
Source: Al-Ghad
