King Abdullah's Half Brother Prince Hamzah Accused Of 'Liaising With Foreign Parties To Destabilize Jordan'

Jordan's government on Sunday accused former Crown Prince Hamzah bin Hussein and some of his associates of working with foreign entities to destabilize the kingdom over a period of time.

Al Jazeera reported the military warned the prince on Saturday over activities targeting the kingdom's "security and stability."

King Abdullah's half-brother, Prince Hamzah, later announced that he was under house arrest. Authorities detained several high-profile personalities.

"The investigations had monitored interferences and communications with foreign parties over the right timing to destabilize Jordan," Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi said on Sunday.

He added that one of these involved a foreign intelligence agency that contacted Hamzah's wife to prepare a plane for the couple to leave Jordan.

He added that attempts are being made to solve the royal family's crisis but Hamzah was not cooperating. Safadi said itis a break from Hashemite family's traditions and values.

Hamzah's mother, Queen Noor – the widow of Jordan's late king – had previously spoken out in defense of her son.

Safadi said the security services have requested that those involved in the plot be referred to the state security court. The deputy Prime Minister said that 14 to 16 people had been arrested in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, Jordan's neighbors and allies expressed their support for King Abdullah.

"The kingdom affirms its full support, with all its capabilities, to all decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah and His Highness Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, to maintain security and stability," the Saudi royal court said.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday that a strong, thriving Jordan is "an Israeli security and economic interest, and we need to do whatever we can to assist them."

Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Morocco, and other regional governments also supported King Abdullah as proof of Jordan's strategic importance.

Meanwhile, the outlet said it was unclear if Hamzah was being held under house arrest. Jordan's military also denied that authorities arrested the former crown prince on Saturday. But he was asked to "stop some movements and activities that are being used to target Jordan’s security and stability."

Meanwhile, Hamzah underscored he is "not [a] part of or aware of any conspiracy.”