Safadi calls for 'immediate' action to end Israeli aggression on Gaza, Lebanon, urges uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday called for an "immediate" action to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, stressing the need for uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid.

Speaking at the Rome Mediterranean Dialogue Forum, Safadi criticized the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza which, he said, has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, destroyed infrastructure and deepened instability, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

"The Israeli onslaught has wiped out schools, hospitals and entire communities in Gaza. This is not a path to peace or security for Israel," he said.

Safadi's remarks were made in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and key international leaders and experts. 

"Jordan has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and stands ready to send additional aid if access through the crossings is allowed," he said.

"Every day that passes is worse than the one before", he said, echoing the warnings of His Majesty King Abdullah that the absence of a viable political solution to the Palestinian cause would lead to unrest.

Reiterating Jordan's unaltered position on the two-state solution as the only viable path to regional peace and stability, Safadi called for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

He said that the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative offers Israel collective security guarantees in the context of peace.

The top diplomat also touched on the crisis in Syria, urging a political solution to preserve the country's territorial unity and end years of suffering and address broader issues of migration and displacement.

At  a meeting of G7 countries and Arab partners on the sidelines of the Italy-held forum, Safadi he urged the international community to intervene immediately to secure a durable ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, while ensuring full humanitarian access to Gaza's population.

On the sidelines of the forum, Safadi met with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, including the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria.

He also held talks with the G7 foreign ministers - representing the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and host country Italy , as well as EU foreign policy chief JosepBorrell.

The G7 meeting was also attended by foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.