Jordan said on Friday Israeli “war crimes” against Palestinians were to blame for heightened regional tension and violence in the Red Sea, which it said threatened to ignite a wider war in the Middle East.
Israel, which since October has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has denied allegations that it has committed war crimes.
In comments after the United States and Britain launched strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the international community has failed to act to stop Israeli “aggression” against Palestinians which was endangering the region’s security.
“The Israeli aggression on Gaza and its continued committing of war crimes against the Palestinian people and violating international law with impunity is responsible for the rising tensions witnessed in the region,” Safadi said in remarks carried by state media.
The stability of the region and its security were closely tied, Safadi said.
“The international community is at a humanitarian, moral, legal and security crossroads. Either it shoulders its responsibilities and ends Israel’s arrogant aggression and protect civilians, or allows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist ministers to drag us to a regional war that threatens world peace,” Safadi said.
He said Israel was pushing the region towards more conflict “by continuing its aggression and its attempt to open new fronts,” and that Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza met the legal definition of genocide.
Israel on Friday rejected as “grossly distorted” accusations brought by South Africa at the U.N.’s top court that its military operation in Gaza was a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population.
It has said its forces abide by international law while fighting Palestinian militants in Gaza who operate in densely populated civilian areas.
