The Middle East Conflict: Calls for Ceasefire and International Accountability

– Israel cannot justify this as self-defence, says Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi also came out hard against Israel.

– Israel commits war crimes and cannot be above international law.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in Amman to meet foreign ministers from five Arab countries – Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Blinken is in Jordan to discuss the situation in the Middle East with several Arab countries.

Photo: Thomson Reuters (Do not use this version of the image)

Demands an immediate ceasefire

In addition, representatives from the Palestinian Authority are present.

Several countries want an immediate ceasefire now, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry today demanded an unconditional ceasefire.

But when Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a few days ago, Netanyahu was clear.

There will be no ceasefire if Hamas does not release the approximately 200 hostages it took on 7 October.

Several people are working to retrieve the wounded and dead from the ruins after the air raid.

Photo: Hassan Eslaiah / AP

On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, where over 1,000 people were killed and over 200 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas.

Israel has responded with a blockade on the Gaza Strip that has prevented food, fuel and water from reaching the residents.

Over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli rockets in recent weeks, reports Hamas. 3,900 of them will be children.

Attack on ambulance outside Shifa hospital

Is afraid a ceasefire could lead to more attacks

Both Egypt and Jordan emphasized that the United States has a leading role to play in ending the war in Gaza.

The US, for its part, believes that a cease-fire in Gaza could lead to Hamas being able to regroup and attack again, as they did on 7 October.

At the same time, they support a “humanitarian pause” in the warfare, so that civilians can receive the necessary health care.

According to Blinken, Arab leaders agree with the US that the situation today – the way Hamas rules Gaza – cannot continue.

According to a statement from the US State Department, the Amman talks will focus on “the consequences of the dangerous escalation that threatens the security of the entire region”.

The fear is that the conflict could now spread in the region.

Jordan shares a border with Israel and occupied the West Bank. In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab state to make peace with Israel, after Egypt in 1979.

2023-11-04 17:12:09
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