Jordan, Germany discuss efforts to halt war on Gaza

By Laith Aljunaidi​​​​​​​

AMMAN (AA) – Jordan and Germany on Saturday discussed efforts to stop the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, in addition to the “catastrophic” conditions it causes.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock spoke in the capital Amman as part of her unannounced official visit to the kingdom.

The top diplomats “held extensive talks discussing efforts to halt the Israeli war on Gaza and the catastrophic conditions it causes,” said a Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi emphasized that “halting the Israeli aggression on Gaza is the top priority that must be achieved immediately, the only way to end the humanitarian disaster caused by the aggression, and to ensure the delivery of sufficient aid to all areas of the strip.”

He warned that “the danger of the war expanding regionally will escalate with each day the aggression continues.”

Safadi called for “the international community to take all necessary steps to compel Israel to immediately implement the procedural measures adopted by the ICJ, including stopping the killing of Palestinians, ensuring the sufficient entry of humanitarian aid, stopping incitement, and holding those who incite accountable.”

Safadi stressed that “any future approach to Gaza must be comprehensive, confirming the unity of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem within a specific timeframe and under a clear plan to achieve a comprehensive solution to the conflict based on a two-state solution.”

According to the statement, the two top diplomats affirmed that “the two-state solution is the only way to achieve security, stability, and peace in the region.”

They stressed the “importance of respecting the rules of international law and humanitarian law, and the need to ensure the protection of civilians.”

The statement quoted Baerbock as saying: “Israelis and Palestinians will not be able to live side by side in peace unless the security of one is an integral part of the security of the other.”

She added: “Israel cannot be secure without providing security to the Palestinians, and the Palestinians cannot feel secure unless Israel is secure.”

“Everyone must play their role to stop the suffering on both sides, and we must not leave any stone unturned on the path to a two-state solution,” she said.

She explained that “hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been displaced and are now in UN facilities and other places have nowhere else to go.”

Baerbock stressed “the need for a humanitarian cease-fire now, to later achieve a sustainable cease-fire, allowing for the release of all hostages in the end.”

She continued: “As the International Court of Justice urged, the Israeli government must immediately allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and adjust the way it conducts its operations.”

Baerbock expressed her country's “rejection” of the displacement of Palestinians.

The two also agreed to cooperate in efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Despite an International Court of Justice provisional ruling, Israel continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where at least 26,257 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 64,797 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​