The concept that Palestinian refugees leaving northern Gaza should be allowed to enter either Jordan or Egypt has been categorically shot down by King Abdullah II of Jordan. Following his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, King Abdullah II of Jordan announced that there will be “no refugees in Jordan and no refugees in Egypt,” reiterating his stance that the humanitarian crisis must be confined to the West Bank and Gaza. The declaration made by the King comes at a time when diplomatic attempts are being made to establish safe zones in Gaza, and there is the prospect that Palestinians would seek sanctuary in the southern portion of the territory. In order to prevent a rapid rush of refugees, Egypt has been extremely circumspect over the opening of its borders.
As part of the efforts being made by the international community to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in the region, the United States has advocated for the establishment of safe zones in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced his support for this project and mentioned that he was collaborating with agencies of the United Nations, the government of Israel, and other nations to put the plan into action.
King Abdullah also issued a warning about the possible grave repercussions of allowing the conflict to grow, and he emphasized the necessity for joint efforts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East. King Abdullah gave the warning on Monday.
It is anticipated that President Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in a four-party meeting in Amman to address the continuing conflict in Gaza and investigate potential avenues for revitalizing the peace process in the area.