Jordan, US discuss efforts for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

By Laith Al-Junaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) - Jordan and the US on Saturday discussed efforts to reach a “comprehensive and immediate” cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said.

This came during a meeting between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf in Amman.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry stated on X that the meeting between the two sides “focused on efforts to achieve a comprehensive and immediate cease-fire in Gaza.”

Safadi emphasized the “need of stopping the war and the humanitarian disaster it causes, and ensuring the protection of civilians and the delivery of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to all parts of the strip extensively, safely and without obstacles.”

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed.

More than 31,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and 73,546 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala