Safadi, Japan’s Mideast envoy discuss urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza, de-escalation efforts

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday received Japan's Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Uemura Tsukasa to review the developments in Gaza.

They went over efforts to halt the war in Gaza, enforce international humanitarian law and deliver food and medical aid to the Gaza Strip, according to a ministry statement. 

Safadi stressed the need to halt the war and rally international efforts to launch immediate and effective international action that will stop the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

The minister also reiterated the need to re-launch serious and effective negotiations to realise lasting, just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which allows Palestinians to establish their independent state on their national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital on the pre-1967 lines and live in security and peace with Israel.

For his part, Tsukasa praised the efforts of Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, to halt the war, guarantee the protection of civilians, deliver aid to Gaza and realise peace and stability in the region.

On Wednesday night, Safadi continued regional and international communications with hopes of reaching an international effort to stop the war on Gaza, warning of the danger of its continuation and the catastrophic humanitarian tragedy it imposes on innocent citizens.

In two phone calls with Dutch and Romanian counterparts, Hanke Bruins Slot and Luminita Odobescu, Safadi discussed the war, destruction to the health infrastructure and efforts to deliver humanitarian and medical aid to Gazans.

Safadi received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and discussed efforts to stop the war on Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid to the strip, and the danger of expanding the war.

The deputy prime minister underscored that all efforts must focus on stopping the war and protecting civilians and warned that potential expansion of the war would pose a threat to regional security.