Jordanian government dismissed reports that Gazans need residency permits to stay in the Kingdom

The Ministry of Interior Sunday dismissed as "totally untrue" reports that Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, who hold temporary Jordanian passports, need residence permits in the Kingdom.

A source at the ministry said Gazans holding temporary passports do not need a permit to stay in the Kingdom, either under the valid Residency and Foreign Affairs Law, which explicitly states that, or the amendments to the law, currently in the House of Deputies.

"These (amendments) will absolutely not change this status, and had not been in question, and had never been considered", it added.

It urged the media to take information regarding the national decision-making process from the makers of these decisions before starting to analyze or interpret these, "to arrive at the truth and avoid inaccurate analysis that could often play into the hands of those with ill-intentioned minds and malicious private agendas aimed to undermine national unity".

"Bringing up such subjects by some media outlets (claiming) that the government had backtracked on a decision that it had not originally taken, or is not a matter up for discussion in its current or future policy (agenda), and that lacked the required accuracy in order to be put objectively to the public opinion for debate and analysis, should in the first place be based on broad knowledge", added the source.

Commenting on Gazans' acquiring work permits, the source made it clear that such permits for foreigners are generally regulated by the Labour Law, and that the Residence and Foreign Affairs Law had nothing to do with the subject of exemptions from obtaining them or paying their fees.

It said the people of the Gaza Strip are exempted from work permit fees under a decision recently issued by the Prime Minister's Office with the aim of alleviating the burdens on Gazans.