THE King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized the need for immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Stripduring the meeting he had today with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The Jordanian monarch also emphasized that immediate action must be taken to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a continuous flow of medical aid, food and basic necessities to adequately cover the needs.

Highlighting the need to protect the civilian population, he sounded the alarm about the impact of a possible attack by the Israeli army on Rafah, warning that the devastating effects of the war in the Gaza Strip could spread to the West Bank, Jerusalem, but and in the wider Middle East region.

He further underlined the importance of supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), calling it a “lifeline” for some 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

King Abdullah called on the US to play an essential role in efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.

The previous meeting between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the head of Jordanian diplomacy, Ayman al-Safadi, was on the same wavelength. The two ministers discussed the prevention of a possible Israeli army attack on Rafah, as well as the need to implement a comprehensive plan to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just and sustainable peace.