Thousands of Jordanians hold anti-Israel march
AMMAN, March 2 (Reuters) - Crying for revenge with suicide attacks, thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital of the pro-U.S. kingdom on Sunday to protest against Israel's Gaza offensive that had killed more than 100 Palestinians.
About 10,000 protesters, mainly from Jordan's mainstream Muslim Brotherhood and smaller opposition groups, took to the streets in one of the country's most vocal and largest anti-Israeli demonstrations in recent years.
"O Hamas, O Hamas, bring the suicide bombers ... Victory to Hamas and defeat to the Jews and Americans," chanted the crowds, who called on the Islamist militant group to resume suicide attacks and intensify rocket strikes against Israel.
Israel's deadliest and deepest incursion into the Gaza Strip since pulling out in 2005 provoked angry reactions among Jordanians, many of whom are of Palestinian origin.
A 21-month-old girl, two other civilians and three militants were killed in the latest fighting in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, raising the Palestinian death toll in five days of bloodshed to more than 100, including about 60 civilians, medics said.
Israel said it was acting in self-defence to curb cross-border rocket attacks by militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and threatened to intensify its ground and air campaign despite allegations it was using excessive force.
Defying government curbs on street marches, thousands have taken to the streets inside many of Jordan's squalid camps and poor districts of the capital under the watchful eyes of the authorities to show solidarity with their brethren.
Jordanian officials have been alarmed by Israel's military offensive and worry it could derail U.S. backed peace moves between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
They fear it broadens the popularity of the Islamist movement among a majority of poor Jordanians, many of them living in refugee camps and disenchanted with the U.S.-led Middle East peace process.
The demonstrators lambasted Arab rulers, accusing them of complicity with Israel and standing idly by as ordinary Gazans are killed.
"Shame on you, Shame on you rulers. You have betrayed your people ... Open the borders and let us fight the Jews," youths chanted. (Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi; Editing by Sami Aboudi)
