Jordan king: Israel’s repeated provocations against Palestinians led to escalation

Jordan King Abdullah II said Israel’s repeated provocative practices against the Palestinian people have led to the ongoing escalation and pushed the region towards more tension, the Royal Hashemite Court said in a statement.

In a phone call with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, King Abdullah II stressed that there is no alternative to a political solution that leads to a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution which guarantees the establishment of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the statement said.

King Abdullah also pointed to his constant warnings of the repercussions of Israel’s violations in Jerusalem, especially against Al-Aqsa Mosque and Tel Aviv’s attempts to illegally displace the residents of the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

He stressed that Jordan would continue to make efforts to protect Islamic and Christian sanctities in the holy city, as guardian over these sites.

King Abdullah called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and stop the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people and sanctities as well as its aggression on Gaza, and work towards peace.

READ: Israeli strikes destroy 40 streets, junctions in Gaza

Since 10 May, Israel launched an air campaign against the besieged Strip which has left around 221 in Gaza dead, including 63 children, 35 women and 15 elderly, and more than 1,400 others wounded. Twelve Israelis have also been killed.

This comes after Israel’s attempts to stop Muslim worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its assault of worshippers during the last few days of the holy month of Ramadan. Occupation forces were also making plans to forcibly displaced Palestinian residents of the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah to make way for illegal settlers.

Death toll in Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip keeps rising…- Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]