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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II demanded, on Wednesday, an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and said the Israeli offensive targets innocent civilians and deepens the suffering of the Palestinian people, warning of the "disastrous" repercussions of the aggression on the region.

King Abdullah voiced strong condemnation of the Israeli onslaught and called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and protect the Palestinian people, provide them with medical and humanitarian assistance, and support Jordan's efforts in facilitating the delivery of medical and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in the coastal territory.

This came during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that focused on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and efforts underway to adopt a draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The King stressed Jordan's support for the Egyptian initiative which seeks to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and called for drumming up international support for it.

His Majesty made it clear that the serious situation in Gaza cannot be tolerated or accepted, emphasizing that the Palestinian issue remains the crux of the conflict in the region.

He warned that the failure to bring about a just, lasting and comprehensive solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state according to the two-state solution will weaken the chances of achieving peace and deepen despair, frustration, instability and turmoil in the whole region.

His Majesty said the developments and the current escalation in Gaza does not justify in any way Israel's unilateral actions and policies in the occupied territories, especially in East Jerusalem, and specifically against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding areas.

The King vowed that Jordan will always stand by Palestinian people and will continue to provide all forms of support to the people of Gaza so they can cope with the difficult and harsh conditions they are experiencing because of the continued Israeli aggression.

On Syria, His Majesty reiterated Jordan's support for a comprehensive political solution to the crisis, noting at the same time the massive burdens being borne by Jordan as a result of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees.

With regard to the situation in Iraq, King Abdullah said Jordan is keen on the safety and territorial integrity of Iraq and its people and called for an inclusive political process involving all components of the Iraqi people, without exception of any party.

The UN secretary-general briefed the King on the outcome of his current tour in the region on the situation in Gaza.

Ban commended Jordan's relief assistance to Gaza and said the international organization will continue its efforts in order to achieve a truce and a cease-fire and intensify efforts made by UN institutions to help the Palestinians in Gaza.

*Petra