News

King stresses to US secretary of state need to open humanitarian corridors for Gaza aid delivery

13 October 2023

His Majesty King Abdullah, receiving US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, stressed the need to open humanitarian corridors to allow for the delivery of medical and relief aid into Gaza, while protecting civilians and working to end the escalation and the war on Gaza.

King Abdullah said the work of international agencies in the Gaza Strip must not be hindered, to enable them to perform their humanitarian duties, stressing the importance of stepping up international efforts to end the escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and prevent a further deterioration of the situation and its spillover into the West Bank.

His Majesty warned of any attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinians from all the Palestinian Territories or to cause their internal displacement, calling for preventing a spillover of the crisis into neighbouring countries and the exacerbation of the refugee issue.

The King warned of inflicting collective punishment against Gaza residents, urging the protection of innocent civilians on all sides, in line with shared human values, international law, and international humanitarian law.

His Majesty reiterated the need to create a political horizon to guarantee the prospects for just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, and prevent the eruption of more cycles of violence and war in the region.

The King stressed the need to preserve the historical and legal status quo in Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, noting the continued efforts to safeguard these holy sites under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, and US Ambassador to Jordan Yael Lempert attended the meeting.

Earlier, Safadi had met with Blinken and discussed efforts to end the dangerous escalation and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.