Jordan's King Abdullah II affirmed during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman today, Friday, the necessity of opening urgent humanitarian corridors to deliver medical and relief aid to the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians and halting the escalation and war in Gaza. He warned against "impeding the work of international organizations in Gaza so they can fulfill their humanitarian duties," noting the "importance of intensifying international efforts to stop the escalation in Gaza and its surroundings, and to prevent the deterioration of conditions and their expansion to the West Bank."
The Jordanian king cautioned against any attempts to displace Palestinians from all Palestinian territories or cause their displacement, stressing that "the crisis should not be transferred to neighboring countries and exacerbate the refugee issue." He reiterated the need to "build a political horizon to ensure opportunities for achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and to prevent further cycles of violence and wars in the region."
King Abdullah II warns against any attempts to displace Palestinians from all Palestinian territories or cause their displacement, emphasizing that the crisis should not be transferred to neighboring countries and exacerbate the refugee issue. #Jordan #Palestine
Blinken met with the Jordanian monarch today as part of the second stop on his broader tour of the Middle East, amid Israel's preparations for a massive ground assault in Gaza and a request for Gaza's residents to evacuate to the south. This request, which the United Nations has deemed impossible to implement "without devastating humanitarian consequences," followed Blinken's discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the conflict.
U.S. President Joe Biden sent Blinken to the region, which is witnessing the most severe escalation in years, following an attack by Hamas militants that led to significant casualties in Israeli towns. Blinken's tour of Israel and Jordan has been expanded to include all Gulf Arab states and Egypt, marking it as the largest visit he has undertaken in the region since assuming office in January 2021.
Today, Blinken is scheduled to visit three additional countries: Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Secretary of State arrived in Amman early Friday morning from Tel Aviv and is set to engage in talks with King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to discuss developments following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation.
