CAIRO: Jordan’s Queen Rania has urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, denouncing those opposing the truce as endorsing and justifying the death of thousands of Palestinian civilians. Responding to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s rejection of a ceasefire during his visit to Amman, Queen Rania stressed the necessity of a collective call for peace.
In an interview with CNN, Queen Rania criticized the argument that a ceasefire would empower Hamas, highlighting the moral responsibility to prevent the loss of innocent lives. She emphasized that addressing the root causes of the conflict, including illegal occupation, human rights abuses, and disregard for international law, is essential.
Jordan’s Queen Decries Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
The Queen decried the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 10,000 Palestinians have been martyred since the conflict began, with almost half of the victims being children.
Regarding Israel’s claims of civilians being used as human shields, Queen Rania emphasized the criminality of such actions under international law. She held Israel accountable for avoiding civilian casualties, emphasizing the responsibility of nations to assess risks to civilian lives before taking military actions.
Queen Rania also criticized Israel’s evacuation orders, stating that they aimed to legitimize actions rather than genuinely protect Gaza civilians. She highlighted the forced displacement of 1.1 million people, challenging the notion of safe zones given continuous attacks even in designated refuge areas.
