Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, following Israel’s order for all civilians in the enclave to move to the south. In a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan’s capital Amman, Abbas referred to this potential event as a “second Nakba”, drawing parallels to the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. Abbas emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to be established immediately, in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
Blinken’s visit to Jordan aims to negotiate and make progress on the release of American captives held by Hamas, as well as to facilitate the safe exit of US citizens and dual nationals currently in Gaza. However, it is important to note that Blinken’s diplomatic efforts do not include calling for a cessation of hostilities or urging Israel to stop its aggression on Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Blinken met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who also called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow for the entry of urgent medical and relief aid into Gaza. King Abdullah II voiced concerns about the escalating war and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians.
In a show of support for Palestinians, thousands of people gathered in Amman for a demonstration. Holding banners that read “The victory march will continue, solidarity with Palestine” and “Stand with Palestine, Liberated Palestine”, the demonstrators expressed their unwavering support. However, the demonstration was met with a heavy police presence, and tear gas was reportedly used to disperse a group of demonstrators near a security checkpoint.
Jordan, with a significant Palestinian population, is concerned about the potential regional escalation of violence resulting from the Israel-Hamas war. The country fears that it could be directly affected by the conflict.
Israel is currently engaged in a campaign to “destroy” Hamas, the armed group that rules the Gaza Strip. The conflict escalated after Palestinian fighters stormed Israel’s southern border over the weekend, resulting in the death of over 1,300 people. Israel has since been conducting airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, resulting in a death toll of 1,537 people. The Israeli military has dropped approximately 6,000 bombs on the Gaza Strip since October 7th, a number comparable to the bombs used by the US in Afghanistan in one year. It is important to note that Afghanistan is almost 1,800 times larger than the besieged Gaza enclave.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with concerns over the safety and well-being of civilians. The international community continues to monitor the conflict closely, with hopes for a peaceful resolution and the establishment of humanitarian aid channels to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
