Jordan’s foreign minister emphasized the potential catastrophic repercussions of the war and urged efforts to protect the region from further danger.
The conflict escalated after a deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on October 7, resulting in significant casualties. Israel responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, causing many casualties and displacing a large number of people.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed the view that the situation was likely to deteriorate further, with diplomatic efforts proving unsuccessful in ending the conflict. He emphasized that the decision to end the war rested with Israel and called for all possible efforts to achieve a resolution.
The fear of an expanded conflict also affected a meeting between Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. The leaders issued a joint statement rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians and criticized Israel for what they viewed as collective punishment through civilian bombings.
Safadi, in Amman, made it clear that Jordan would use all means to confront mass displacement of Palestinians leading to significant regional changes. He asserted that such an outcome would be unacceptable and could be seen as a declaration of war.
The conflict has raised concerns in Jordan, given its significant population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. There are worries that a broader conflagration could provide an opportunity for Israel to implement policies aimed at mass expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank, a situation Jordan is determined to prevent.
