By Al-Fassel | 2023-12-03

Jordan's King Abdullah on Thursday (November 30) hosted an international meeting in Amman to coordinate Gaza emergency relief, as the kingdom continues to deliver medical supplies to the people of Gaza via Egypt.

Representatives of United Nations (UN) agencies and other international organizations attended the meeting, along with regional and international government officials, the Jordan Times reported.

King Abdullah addressed the conference, which was held behind closed doors, with UN aid chief Martin Griffiths reportedly in attendance, Al-Arabiya reported.

The Jordanian monarch said humanitarian aid currently delivered to Gaza does not cover relief needs on the ground, according to a Royal Court statement.

He called for coordination to be maintained among all international stakeholders to bridge gaps, avoid the duplication of efforts, and identify the challenges, urging participants to work collectively to deliver aid.

The meeting was held as part of the "Aqaba Process," which Abdullah initiated as a vehicle for developing a shared understanding of the challenges posed by terrorism and for identifying solutions and creating networks to mitigate risks.

Participants highlighted the need to ensure conditions that guarantee a quick and uninterrupted delivery of aid to Gaza, and the need to respect international law, per the Jordan Times.

They discussed the challenges they face in aid delivery, and means of overcoming them, and identified aid priorities and urgent needs on the ground in Gaza, including the needed logistics for aid delivery and distribution.

Most trucks currently carry aid through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the only open entry point into Gaza, according to Al-Arabiya.

But this aid has to first go through Israeli inspections at the Nitzana crossing, to ensure that neither fuel nor dual usage goods enter Gaza.

Jordan's pivotal role

The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, in cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), on Wednesday dispatched a new aircraft laden with medical supplies to Gaza.

This is the fourth aid donation from UNRWA, carrying approximately 45 tons of medical supplies to support Gaza's health sector, Jordanian state media reported.

The plane's cargo will be transferred to the Egyptian Red Crescent at al-Arish airport, and later will be transported via the Rafah crossing into Gaza, where it will be distributed to hospitals.

The United States is sending three military aircraft to Egypt to bring vital humanitarian aid for Gaza, the first of which already landed in Egypt's northern Sinai on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the US Agency for International Development.

Jordan continues to play a pivotal role in achieving regional peace and stability, NATO deputy assistant secretary-general for political affairs and security policy Javier Colomina said Wednesday, the Jordanian news agency, Petra, reported.

Colomina commended King Abdullah's leadership and deep understanding of foreign policy and transparent expression of views on various issues, during an interview in Brussels with Petra.

Jordan's position is constructive, based on dialogue and consistently strives to end conflicts, promote peace and enhance stability, he said.

The kingdom has the capacity to make significant contributions to conflict resolution and promoting stability, he added, describing the NATO-Jordan partnership as "strong and exceptional in both political cooperation and training."

As a proof of the strong partnership between Amman and the Brussels-based alliance, he cited the NATO bureau that will be opened in Amman.