(Amman) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Tuesday for increased efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, during a visit to Jordan where his discussions focused in particular on coordination of efforts in this direction.
Mr. Blinken, who is making his seventh tour to the region since the start of the war on October 7 between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, praised Jordan’s humanitarian efforts and the “extraordinary work” carried out by the United Nations.
“This is an important moment to make sure that everything that needs to be done is being done,” Blinken said during his meeting in Amman with the Coordinator for Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction at Gaza, Sigrid Kaag.
He also met separately with King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Aymane Safadi, to discuss assistance and diplomatic efforts towards a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas including the release of hostages .
During his meeting with the King of Jordan, Mr. Blinken, who is scheduled to visit Israel later in the day, said that “Hamas should accept the proposal on the table,” according to the State Department spokesperson , Matthew Miller.
According to a press release from the Royal Palace, the King of Jordan insisted on “the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”, warning of the “disastrous effects of the war” and the risk of spread in the region.
As for the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, he insisted on “the importance of supporting UNRWA”, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, “a lifeline for around two million” Gazans.
Abdullah II also stressed “the importance of the role of the United States […] to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution” Palestinian and Israeli.
” Not enough ”
Jordan, which maintains diplomatic relations with Israel and has a large Palestinian population, is particularly sensitive to tensions in neighboring Palestinian territories.
In mid-April, Amman shot down Iranian drones fired at Israel, Jordan’s neighbor, in response to a deadly airstrike against the Iranian consulate in Syria. While working with the United States, the Jordanian kingdom wants to avoid being affected by a possible conflict.
Before Jordan, the US Secretary of State spoke with leaders of the Gulf Arab countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He must still go to Israel where he will address the ongoing negotiations aimed at establishing a truce in the Gaza Strip and obtaining the release of the hostages who have been held there since October 7.
Despite criticism abroad and growing anger on U.S. college campuses, President Joe Biden’s administration is supporting Israel in its campaign against Hamas, while urging its close ally to do more to protect civilians.
“President Biden insisted that Israel take specific, concrete steps,” Blinken told his Gulf counterparts in Riyadh.
“We have seen measurable progress in recent weeks, including the opening of new crossings, an increase in the volume of aid deliveries to and within Gaza, and the construction of the US maritime corridor, which will be open in the coming weeks,” he said.
” But that is not enough. We still need to get more aid in and around the Gaza Strip,” he stressed.
The United States is pressuring Israel to make it easier for aid to enter by road and has also begun building a floating port off the Gaza coast, intended to accommodate cargo arriving by boat.