Jordan's king warns over expansion of Israel-Gaza war

By Laith Al-Jnaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) - Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned Monday against the expansion of Israel’s war on Gaza as Israeli forces intensified their onslaught on the Palestinian enclave.

The monarch made the comment in the Belgian capital Brussels during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, according to the Jordanian Royal Court.

King Abdullah said that "everyone is paying the price for the absence of a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

He also called for working toward an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the protection of the civilians.

The king also highlighted the issue of assaults by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that such acts would ignite the situation there.

Israel has carried out air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack launched by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have been killed in Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip.

At least 159 Palestinians have also been killed and 2,250 injured by Israeli forces across the West Bank in the same period.

The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar