King to UK PM: Denying food, water and electricity to innocent civilians in Gaza is war crime

• His Majesty reiterates importance of opening humanitarian corridors 
• King calls for ending war on Gaza, preventing its spill-over into West Bank
• King expresses Jordan’s rejection of attempts to push crisis on neighbouring countries, exacerbate refugee issue 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said denying food, water, and electricity supplies to innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip is a war crime that the world must condemn and denounce.

Speaking at the meeting in London on Sunday, King Abdullah reiterated the importance of opening humanitarian corridors to allow the passage of urgent medical and relief aid into the strip, calling for ending the war on Gaza and preventing its spill-over into the West Bank and its ensuing impact on the stability of the entire region, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty again warned of any attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinians from the entire Palestinian Territories or cause their internal displacement, which would be a violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and have catastrophic ramifications on countries in the region.

The King expressed Jordan’s rejection of attempts to push the crisis on neighbouring countries and exacerbate the refugee issue, stressing that the international community must reject inflicting collective punishment on the residents of the Gaza Strip.

His Majesty said the international community must indiscriminately condemn the targeting of innocent civilians, in line with shared humanitarian values, international law and international humanitarian law.

The King reaffirmed the importance of building a political horizon to guarantee the prospects of just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

His Majesty called for safeguarding the historical and legal status quo in Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The importance of maintaining coordination between the two countries on the dangerous developments in Gaza was also stressed during the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to the UK Manar Dabbas, and a number of senior British officials attended the meeting.