Jordan’s King Abdullah: Israel’s ‘brutal’ war creates generation of Gaza orphans

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks during his visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda, in this handout picture released on January 8, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 08 January 2024
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Jordan’s King Abdullah: Israel’s ‘brutal’ war creates generation of Gaza orphans

  • Abdullah said a lesson to be drawn was that Israel’s “indiscriminate aggression” in Gaza would never guarantee its security

AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah said on Monday that Israel had created a whole generation of orphans with its “brutal” war in Gaza, where he said over 30,000 people, mostly women and children, had been killed or were missing as a result of the conflict.
In remarks at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, where the monarch spoke of “unspeakable crimes” during that African conflict, Abdullah said a lesson to be drawn was that Israel’s “indiscriminate aggression” in Gaza would never guarantee its security. His remarks were carried on state media following a statement by the royal palace.
“More children have died in Gaza than in all other conflicts around the world this past year. Of those who have survived, many have lost one or both parents, an entire generation of orphans,” he said.
“How can indiscriminate aggression and shelling bring peace? How can they guarantee security, when they are build on hatred?,” Abdullah said of Israel’s war against the militant group Hamas.
The monarch, who toured the Rwandan Genocide Memorial site and wrote comments on a visitors’ list, was briefed on the exhibits that retold the horror of the 1994 killings. He said Rwanda’s experience “teaches us we must fight the dehumanizing rhetoric that fuels conflict.”
“Your story can be a beacon for us all — how the people of this country took action after this unspeakable crime of crimes, and worked toward reconciliation, to heal old wounds and prevent genocide from happening again,” he said in televised remarks.


Safety of Jordanians a priority during regional conflict, says country’s crown prince

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Safety of Jordanians a priority during regional conflict, says country’s crown prince

  • He visits Civil Defense Department and is briefed on the work it is doing to manage emergencies and protect lives and property amid attacks by Iran

LONDON: The safety of citizens is a priority for authorities in Jordan amid regional tensions, the country’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah Al-Hashimi said on Wednesday as he visited the Civil Defense Department for a briefing and iftar event.

He stressed the importance of keeping pace with the latest developments in civil protection systems and taking every opportunity to enhance the skills of Civil Defense personnel, the royal court said.

The department, which operates under the Ministry of Interior, has been working to manage emergencies and protect lives and property amid a barrage of missiles and drones launched by Tehran in recent days in response to attacks on Iran by the US and Israel. The strikes have targeted civilian and military areas in Jordan and other countries in the region.

During his visit the crown prince was greeted by Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, director of the Public Security Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Nasser Sweilmeen, the Civil Defense director, and briefed on the work of the Civil Defense Department, the systems it uses, and the ways in which it is responding to the regional conflict.

In addition to firing missiles into Israel, Iran has targeted US forces at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and other American military sites in Gulf countries. Military personnel and civilians in several countries have been killed or injured by missiles or falling debris.