Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, expressed grave concern on Thursday regarding the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to ongoing Israeli Occupation aggression and the refusal of Tel Aviv to allow sufficient humanitarian aid to reach over 2.3 million Palestinians facing famine in Gaza.

 

During separate meetings with the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chief Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, Al-Safadi emphasized that the prevention of essential supplies, such as medicine and food, by the Israeli Occupation constitutes a war crime, met with inadequate international response.

 

Al-Safadi underscored the use of food and medicine as tools of oppression by the occupation, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law, with a distressing absence of international condemnation, undermining the credibility of international law. Jordan pledged to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza through all available means, including airdrops, to alleviate the dire conditions imposed by the Israeli Occupation.

 

Al-Safadi and the UN officials agreed on the necessity of opening all land crossing points for aid to address the needs of a society devastated by Israeli Occupation, as other methods of delivering aid are insufficient.

 

He warned of the grave consequences of the international community's failure to compel the Israeli Occupation to cease its war crimes against Palestinians, which include obstructing the work of international organizations and hindering aid distribution in Gaza, resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis where children suffer from hunger and thirst.

 

Al-Safadi stressed the irreplaceable role of UNRWA in Gaza and the imperative of supporting the agency. He appreciated the decision of countries that resumed their aid to UNRWA after allegations against a few staff members were retracted.

 

During his meeting with Sigrid Kaag, Al-Safadi reiterated Jordan's unwavering support for her mission. Additionally, he met with the head of the independent review group evaluating UNRWA's performance, Catherine Colonna, affirming Jordan's support for the committee's mission and expressing gratitude for her significant efforts.