Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters Saturday that though he condemned the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 and that though “nobody in their right mind” would “belittle” the pain felt by Israel that day, the war in Gaza could not be permitted to continue.
Quick Read
- Jordanian Foreign Minister’s Remarks:
- Ayman Safadi condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and acknowledged the pain experienced by Israel, but stated that the Gaza war must end to prevent enduring hatred.
- Immediate Cease-Fire Call:
- Arab countries, including Jordan, are advocating for an immediate cease-fire rather than the temporary humanitarian pauses proposed by the United States.
- Position on Self-Defense:
- Safadi expressed disagreement with the characterization of Israel’s actions as self-defense, stating it does not justify the conflict nor will it lead to security or peace.
- U.S. Secretary of State’s Stance:
- Antony Blinken agreed on the need to protect Palestinian civilians but differed on the cease-fire approach, suggesting a humanitarian pause instead.
- Concerns About Hamas:
- Blinken argued that a cease-fire would allow Hamas to remain in place and potentially regroup, referencing the group’s attack on Israel as a justification for the current U.S. position.
The Associated Press has the story:
Jordan: Arab Countries demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Newslooks- AMMAN, Jordan
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters Saturday that though he condemned the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 and that though “nobody in their right mind” would “belittle” the pain felt by Israel that day, the war in Gaza could not be permitted to continue.
“The whole region in sinking in a sea of hatred that will define generations to come,” Safadi said after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
He said the Arab countries were demanding an immediate cease-fire, a more dramatic action than the humanitarian pauses supported by the Biden administration to allow for the delivery of food and other supplies and to enable time to secure the release of hostages.
“We don’t accept that this is self-defense,” Safadi said, adding, “It cannot be justified under any pretext and it will not bring Israel security, it will not bring the region peace.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from Egypt and Jordan agreed on the need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but a clear point of division emerged on the question of a possible cease-fire.
Though the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers urged an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Blinken took the position that that would be counterproductive and made clear the furthest he would go was supporting a humanitarian pause to give time for humanitarian supplies to be delivered and getting civilians out of Gaza.
“It is our view now that a cease-fire would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7,” Blinken said at the news conference after the talks, referring to Hamas’ attack on southern Israel that triggered the latest Gaza war.
