United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that attacks by Hamas did not justify the “collective punishment” of Palestinians. Speaking at an economic forum in China, Guterres appealed for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, reiterating that “too many lives and the fate of the entire region hang in the balance.” Guterres said was “fully aware of the deep grievances of the Palestinian people after 56 years of occupation.”
Source: Jordan News Agency
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned Israel’s bombing of the hospital in Gaza, claimed the life of hundreds, most of them children and women. “The attack on Baptista Al-Ahli Hospital is an unjustified tragedy. Wars don’t make any sense,” da Silva said in a post on his X official account on Wednesday. “The innocent cannot pay for the insanity of war,” da Silva added. He said, “I repeat this appeal,” for urgent international action to protect children and civilians in Gaza.
Source: Jordan News Agency
“We are facing the most difficult situation and all indications show that the war is heading for something worse than what we are currently witnessing, disastrous and horrific. There is now talk of a ground attack, and if this attack occurs, the disaster will grow,” the foreign minister added. He stressed that the Jordanian effort, led by His Majesty the King, does not stop, to prevent the worst, and to tell the world that our demands are an immediate cessation of the war now, and immediate permission for the entry of humanitarian, food and medical aid into Gaza. Once again, why blocking humanitarian, food and medical aid to Ukraine is a war crime when it is not a war crime when it comes to Palestine? He added that protecting civilians, and the failure of the whole world to speak clearly about the necessity of protecting civilians, is double standards not only of legal ones, but also of moral standards as well. And then in the long term, as His Majesty the King mentioned more than once, we must look at the context of events. Why are we facing this war? Why are we facing this catastrophe? Because the basis of the conflict is an occupation that has not ended and an occupation that has no prospects for ending. Therefore, if the world wants to prevent the recurrence of these wars and the recurrence of this death, it must end the basis of the conflict, and it must move to end the occupation, which is the basis of evil, which is pushing the entire region into the abyss. He warned of the possibility of the expanding of war, saying “if the war spreads and expands on other fronts, then we are all facing a regional war, and this is something that no one will be able to prevent.” He said that the whole world now remembers what His Majesty used to say years ago when the Palestinian cause was unfortunately marginalized and when the world overlooked it and thought that it could deal with it as if it were an issue of job opportunities here and there and a morsel of food on a family table here and there. “Our position is unified, with no difference between the official and public positions, and this position is not new. Rather, this is the history of Jordan, and these are Jordan’s sacrifices. This is the voice of Jordan, which, thanks to God and with His permission, will remain a loud voice in support of the Palestinian brothers,” the foreign minister concluded
Source: Jordan News Agency
Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh has clarified recent remarks on potential threats to Jordan’s armed forces and security services, emphasizing that he did not allude to any journalists. He reiterated the unwavering support the press, media, and journalists consistently provide to the Hashemite leadership, the Jordanian people, and both legislative and executive branches of the government. Addressing a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Khasawneh elaborated that his concerns centered on perilous narratives gaining traction on social media platforms. These narratives, he indicated, misguidedly steer discussions toward the Jordanian heartland, while concurrently sowing discord in the national fabric. Furthermore, Khasawneh accentuated the integrity and valor of the nation’s armed forces, decrying the malicious attempts to besmirch their esteemed reputation. He praised the security forces for their unwavering support to the citizenry, particularly during peaceful demonstrations that span the breadth and depth of the Kingdom. Lastly, while championing the right to peaceful protests as boundless, the Prime Minister issued a cautionary note to the nation’s populace. He warned against insidious factions, distinct from the nation’s core values and affiliations, that lurk in these congregations. These elements, he contended, strive to mislead the masses, fostering discord that threatens not only Jordan but also the Palestinian cause.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Police on Wednesday said that protestors in the Rabieh area, western Amman, caused a riot, burned and caused material damage after they left the place designated for the scheduled protest. the Public Security Department (PSD) spokesperson said that The protestors tried to take a back side street, in an attempt to reach the (Israeli) embassy, using stones and Molotov cocktails. The PSD spokesperson urged everyone to abide by the law and security instructions and to cooperate with PSD personnel present in the field to protect them and ensure their peaceful expression of their opinions. He expressed deep regret that a number of PSD personnel were injured while dealing with the riots. He added that the injured PSD personnel were rushed to a nearby hospital to receive treatment and they were listed in fair condition.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The House Committees of Foreign Affairs and Public Works won by acclamation in a parliament session devoted to electing two secretaries, three commissioners, and parliamentary committee members. Also, the parliament renewed the term of the House Committee of Finance and Budget chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon
