Safadi, Germany’s Baerbock discuss war on Gaza, regional escalation

Safadi warned that the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza poses a threat to the security of the entire region, highlighting the cooperation between Germany and Jordan in establishing a land corridor to deliver aid to Gaza, adding that the current aid delivery, which includes 800 trucks daily, falls short of Gaza’s minimum needs.

Safadi also criticised Israel for obstructing peace solutions in the Middle East and emphasised that increasing tensions endangers everyone, noting that to halt this escalation, it is crucial to address its root causes.

Safadi also noted that Jordan’s primary focus is to cease the war on Gaza and eradicate the famine and humanitarian disaster plaguing the strip. He also pointed out to the devastating impact of the Israeli aggression on Gaza over the past six months, which has resulted in the death of over 30,000 Palestinians, the displacement of 1.7 million Palestinians, and the destruction of 70 per cent of Gaza’s infrastructure.

Safadi also said that the occupied West Bank is in a “boiling territory” due to Israeli measures and settler terrorism, calling for preventing the current Israeli government from imposing war agenda on the region and taking it into a new cycle of violence.

Asserting Jordan’s stance, Safadi said that the Kingdom does not seek further escalation in the region and will not be a battleground for any regional conflict or war, underlying that Jordan will protect its airspace and its citizens from any violations.

“We will not allow Iran or Israel to turn Jordan into a battleground for conflict,” Safadi said, noting that Iran has responded to the Israeli bombing of its consulate in Damascus by announcing its decision not to escalate further, stressing that the challenge lies in ensuring no response or escalation from the Israeli prime minister.

Safadi also highlighted Jordan’s concerns about Iran, emphasising the need for Iran to refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of Arab countries and to halt actions that fuel escalation. He also highlighted issues with Iran regarding the smuggling of drugs and weapons across the Syrian border into Jordan, facilitated by groups linked to Iran, adding that the Kingdom has clearly communicated this matter to Iran.

On refugee support, Safadi urged the international community to uphold its moral and humanitarian responsibilities towards UNRWA. He also said that Jordan, which hosts 1.3 million Syrian refugees, has done its utmost to provide them with decent living conditions, adding that after more than 11 years of crisis, Jordan continues to bear this responsibility alone.

Safadi also commended the German government’s decision to provide over 610 million euros in developmental assistance to Jordan in various sectors, including water, energy, vocational training, and humanitarian aid for hosting Syrian refugees.

Earlier this week, Safadi received phone calls from Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag, during which they emphasised the necessity of halting escalation in the region.

Safadi reiterated that stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza is the primary requirement for halting escalation, warning against the continuation of aggression on Gaza and its catastrophic repercussions on regional and international peace and security.