Jordan’s FM urges halt to ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza, warns of regional war risk
LONDON: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi made an urgent appeal on Friday for international pressure to halt what he described as “ethnic cleansing” in northern Gaza.
In a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in London, Safadi condemned the humanitarian crisis and called for an end to Israeli actions he said were exacerbating instability in the region.
“We do see ethnic cleansing taking place, and that has got to stop,” Safadi told Blinken, as he warned of the growing risk of regional conflict.
“We really stand at the brink of regional war now. The only path to save the region from that is for Israel to stop the aggressions on Gaza, on Lebanon, and cease unilateral, illegal measures in the West Bank which are pushing the situation to an abyss,” he added.
As the second Arab nation to formalize peace with Israel, Jordan has taken a prominent role in advocating for de-escalation.
Blinken acknowledged Jordan’s leadership, particularly in efforts to ensure humanitarian assistance reached Gaza’s affected areas.
The discussion between the two diplomats focused on the urgent need to cease hostilities in Gaza, uphold Lebanon’s stability, and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Both Safadi and Blinken also highlighted the necessity of sustainable humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians and called for a halt to Israeli actions in the West Bank to prevent further escalation.
In addition to their shared security concerns, Safadi and Blinken emphasized their commitment to strengthening the robust strategic partnership between the US and Jordan across various sectors, reinforcing their undertaking to seeking a peaceful resolution to the escalating crisis in the region.
