Jordan remains resolute in its commitment to preserving peace in the vulnerable Middle East, which has witnessed intermittent conflicts in recent months. Amidst the ongoing war in Gaza involving Israel and Hamas, King Abdullah has once again urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The monarch underscored the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for hundreds of thousands of refugees in the region. King Abdullah expressed concern that, amidst competing global crises, the predicament of refugees and their host nations has been overshadowed. He called upon the international community to acknowledge that addressing global crises requires sustained, shared responsibility.
King Abdullah advocates for a political resolution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for a two-state solution. He believes that achieving this goal requires coordinated actions by Arab nations. Commending Egypt's efforts to prevent the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland, the Jordanian ruler asserts that Gaza and the West Bank should constitute integral parts of the Palestinian state.
Ever since the initiation of the IDF's military campaign in Gaza, the relationship between Jordan and Israel has experienced a downturn. Despite differing priorities concerning Gaza, both nations share a common interest in preventing the escalation of the conflict to Jerusalem or the West Bank, recognizing the crucial role Jordan plays in regional diplomacy and Gaza aid initiatives.
According to Ben Fisher, a senior fellow in The Washington Institute’s Program on Arab Politics, the Jordanian leadership is cautious about providing further leverage to the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political party representing the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, and other adversaries.
Simultaneously, Israel, facing constraints in deploying additional troops to the Jordanian border area or the wider West Bank, maintains close bilateral security ties. However, there is a risk of strain in these ties if the conflict expands further.
Over the past few days, Jordan has adamantly opposed any efforts to forcibly displace Gazans into Jordan and Egypt. Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Foreign Minister, asserted that Israel is actively driving Palestinians out of Gaza.
Safadi emphasized that the situation in Gaza goes beyond the tragic loss of innocent lives and the destruction of their livelihoods; it represents a deliberate attempt to depopulate the region.
Jordan persists in urging the United States to intervene and halt Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
Safadi argued that the unwavering support from the U.S. and the inaction of the United Nations have emboldened Israel to persist in its devastating actions.