Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Amman on Saturday. During their meeting, Safadi plans to emphasize the urgent need for Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza, which he considers to be war crimes. He also intends to highlight the detrimental impact of Israel’s ongoing siege on the region. In a statement from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, Safadi warned that Israel’s refusal to end the conflict could escalate tensions and potentially lead to a wider regional war, posing a threat to global peace.
Safadi stressed the importance of immediate action to halt the Israeli offensive in Gaza and urged Israel to respect international law and refrain from further violations. Prior to his departure for the Middle East, Blinken addressed reporters, acknowledging that discussions on the future of Gaza, particularly in the event of Hamas’s defeat, would be a key focus of his trip. He also expressed the need to explore strategies to prevent the conflict from spreading.
The ongoing conflict in the region has stirred concerns in Jordan, a country with a significant population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. There are fears that an escalation of the conflict could provide an opportunity for Israel to implement policies aimed at mass expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank. Jordan, which shares a border with the West Bank, has historically absorbed a large number of Palestinians who were displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948.
King Abdullah of Jordan recently emphasized that Israel’s reliance on military force and security measures against Palestinians would not lead to a successful resolution. He reiterated that the only path to achieving a just and comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace is through negotiations that result in a two-state solution.
The meeting between Safadi and Blinken highlights the international community’s concern for the ongoing conflict and its potential ramifications. Efforts to find a peaceful resolution and prevent further violence are crucial for the stability of the region and the pursuit of a lasting peace.
