Our message from this church, from this place where this horrific crime was committed, is a message of love, peace, and reassurance. A message that we send to the whole world.
When gunmen opened fire during a funeral in the Jordanian village of Hamoud on October 24, 2026, nine people were killed and forty others were wounded in a rare assault on Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church.
The violence erupted without warning in the Karak governorate, roughly 120 kilometers southwest of the capital Amman, shattering a service dedicated to a cousin’s daughter. Sahar al-Halsa hid behind a pillar as panic filled the sanctuary. She recalled rushing outside into the chaos after the gunfire subsided, finding another of her cousins, Assem, wounded on the ground.
Survivors Describe Sanctuary Chaos and Narrow Escapes
She said he opened his eyes to look at her before he died. Speaking from her home near the church’s red dome alongside her husband Ziad, she described her survival as a narrow escape, stating that her life starts now because she was going to die.
Ziad al-Halsa recounted running the short distance to the scene upon hearing the shots. He felt overwhelming relief upon finding his wife safe while mourning the loss of family.
Monarch Demands Iron Fist Response to Extremist Terror
The assault on the minority Christian community drew an immediate condemnation from Jordan’s leadership. King Abdullah, operating as a key United States partner against Islamist militant groups, directed security forces to respond with an iron fist against what officials classified as extremist terrorism.
Authorities confirmed they were still searching for the perpetrators. They noted it remained too early to determine whether the gunmen maintained ties to domestic or international factions, with no immediate claim of responsibility issued.
Rare Assault Tests Stability in a Volatile Region
While Jordan maintains a reputation as a stable state in the Middle East, authorities have foiled several Islamist plots in recent years. This history makes attacks of this nature exceptionally rare. Sunday marked the scheduled timing for the funeral services, drawing mourners and community leaders to address the aftermath of the multi-minute shooting.
Clergy Urge Calm as Families Prepare to Bury Their Dead
Ahead of the funerals, priest Yuhanna Hamati delivered a public address addressing the congregation and the wider international community from the site of the attack.
Mourners Gather to Grieve and Offer Final Farewells
Ziad al-Halsa offered a brief farewell to the victims as the community gathered to grieve. To my cousins, may God have mercy on them, he said.
