A former Israeli intelligence official, Avi Melamed, has said Hamas is seeking expansion into Jordan through the Muslim Brotherhood to fulfil its ambition of a global Islamic caliphate.
Melamed’s comment followed Jordan’s ban on the Muslim Brotherhood after the uncovering of a terror cell accused of planning brutal attacks, marking the second such plot in under a year.
Twelve suspects are facing trial for terrorism-related crimes after Jordanian security forces discovered weapons, explosives, covert missile manufacturing facilities, and training of saboteurs.
Melamed, in his reaction, said Jordan’s move highlights the monarchy’s resolution to ensure that any threat against national security is met with swift and uncompromising action.
He, however, noted that beyond security, a subtler “invisible” red line lies in Jordan’s identity politics, advising the monarchy to carefully balance Bedouin, Palestinian, Islamic, and Western identities.
“The increasing alignment between the Palestinian and Islamist factions, alongside rising Bedouin discontent, poses a serious challenge to the Hashemite rule,” Melamed said in a statement shared with Arogidigba Global Journal.
The Middle East expert warned that Hamas is rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood and views Jordan as a strategic extension of its vision—a global Islamic caliphate.
Melamed noted that after establishing its Islamic emirate in Gaza, Hamas aims to destroy Israel and eventually expand into Jordan, making the kingdom “a high-value target.”
“The discovery of Hamas’s latest terror cell is a critical warning,” said the analyst, who served as senior Arab affairs adviser to Jerusalem Mayors Teddy Kollek and Ehud Olmert.
Melamed said halting Hamas influence requires dismantling its military infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas supports.
“Most Arab leaders, including Jordan’s king, avoid explicitly calling for Hamas’s disarmament—often due to political sensitivities. That reluctance is proving costly,” he added.