King Abdullah of Jordan has stated that international forces would be unwilling to undertake a "peace enforcing" mandate in Gaza, preferring a "peacekeeping" role. He affirmed Jordan and Egypt's readiness to train Palestinian security forces but indicated Jordan would not deploy its own troops due to its political proximity to the situation. His remarks also touched on the progress of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of sick children from Gaza.
International Troops and Gaza Peace
King Abdullah expressed concerns regarding the proposed role of international troops in Gaza under former US President Trump's 20-point peace plan. This plan suggests Arab states and international partners would commit stabilization forces to train and support Palestinian police in Gaza, with Hamas expected to disarm and relinquish political control. King Abdullah specified that if the mandate for security forces inside Gaza were "peace enforcing," it would likely be rejected by participating countries. He distinguished this from "peacekeeping," where forces support local police.
Jordan and Egypt have indicated willingness to train Palestinian security forces for a peacekeeping role. However, King Abdullah stated that Jordan would not send its own forces into Gaza, citing the country's "too close politically" ties to the situation. Over half of Jordan's population is of Palestinian descent, and the country hosts 2.3 million Palestinian refugees.
Hamas and Future Governance
Regarding Hamas's commitment to disarm and give up its political role, King Abdullah mentioned his lack of direct familiarity with the group. He noted that Qatar and Egypt, who work closely with Hamas, conveyed optimism about the group's adherence to such agreements.
Humanitarian Efforts and Aid Delivery
Mediation efforts during the conflict have primarily involved Qatar and Egypt, working in conjunction with the United States. Jordan has contributed to international efforts to deliver aid to Gaza and evacuate sick and wounded children. King Abdullah personally participated in three missions to parachute aid supplies over the territory.
Since February, 253 sick and wounded children have been evacuated from Gaza to Jordan following a request from King Abdullah to President Trump. In total, more than 5,000 individuals have been medically evacuated, primarily to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 15,000 Gazans, including approximately 3,000 children, are still awaiting evacuation. The evacuation process involves comprehensive security checks by Israel and host countries, which the WHO has characterized as "excruciatingly slow." Cogat, the Israeli military group overseeing aid for Gaza, emphasizes the importance of facilitating humanitarian aid and the necessity of security checks for individuals traveling through Israeli territory.
Queen Rania's Perspective
Jordan's Queen Rania, who is of Palestinian descent, criticized the international community for its perceived failure to halt the conflict over two years. She acknowledged President Trump's role in applying pressure on Israel and negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.