AMMAN: Jordan’s minister of foreign affairs said on Monday that the kingdom remained steadfast in its efforts to halt Israeli aggression in Gaza and unlawful actions targeting the occupied West Bank, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Speaking to lawmakers, Ayman Safadi accused Israel of violating the prisoner exchange agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
He added that Israel had resumed hostilities in Gaza while restricting the entry of humanitarian and medical aid since the beginning of March, calling it a “clear violation of the agreement.”
According to Safadi, a joint Egyptian-Qatari operations room, established to monitor compliance, has recorded more than 900 Israeli breaches of the truce in the past 40 to 50 days. These violations include military actions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 70 Palestinians in Gaza and the continued blockade of essential supplies, including tents and caravans needed for displaced persons.
Safadi said: “Since Israel has destroyed more than 70 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure — including homes, schools, streets, and places of worship — it has also cut off electricity to Gaza, which is already suffering from a severe water shortage due to Israel’s targeting of water stations.”
He emphasized Jordan’s commitment, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, to press Israel to cease its military actions and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“Denying the entry of aid is not only a breach of the exchange agreement but a stark violation of international law,” he said, condemning the withholding of food and medicine as a “war crime.”
Jordan has engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts, including participation in the Arab-Islamic Committee, which recently convened in Cairo.
Safadi highlighted an Egyptian initiative, backed by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to support the reconstruction of Gaza while preventing the displacement of its residents.
Safadi reaffirmed Jordan’s firm opposition to forced displacement, warning of its severe implications for regional security and stability.
“Forced displacement is not just about physically moving people; it is about creating conditions that make life unsustainable,” he said, adding that Jordan was coordinating efforts with the US, the EU, and other international partners within a joint Arab-Islamic framework.
He also expressed concern over escalating tensions in Lebanon, the West Bank, and the Syrian Arab Republic, blaming Israel for heightening instability, and added: “Israel’s unjustified actions in Syrian territory and its disregard for the 1974 agreement undermine efforts for peace.”
Safadi urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its violations and to uphold the terms of the ceasefire agreement. He stressed that the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza would intensify diplomatic outreach in the coming weeks to push for an end to the hostilities.
“The priority now is to halt the aggression, and this can be achieved through the enforcement of the mediated agreements,” he said. “Israel’s continued non-compliance is escalating tensions across the region.”
He reaffirmed Jordan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty, saying that a just and lasting peace could only be achieved through the establishment of a Palestinian state, adding: “Though we are in a complex and dangerous phase, Jordan remains dedicated to defending Palestinian rights and working toward a peaceful and stable region.”
