AMMAN: World leaders at an emergency international conference on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis urged on Tuesday for greater aid access into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory and backed a US-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan as the only long-term solution.
Jordan invited leaders from across the world to its Dead Sea coast for emergency talks as aid groups warn that conditions are worse than ever in the besieged Gaza Strip, with virtually the whole population of over two million Palestinian people relying on sporadic aid deliveries.
Speaking at the conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The horror must stop.” “The speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as secretary-general,” he said.
UN humanitarian coordination Martin Griffiths declared the Gaza war as a “stain on our humanity” and urged for $2.5 billion in humanitarian aid to meet the humanitarian needs of Gazans from April until December.
Backing the ceasefire plan put forth by US President Joe Biden, Guterres emphasized the importance of halting the violence and facilitating the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the commitment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to the proposed ceasefire, urging Hamas to reciprocate.
Speaking at the conference, Jordan’s King Abdullah said that humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip cannot wait for a ceasefire and cannot be subject to a political agenda. “Today we stand at a critical turning point in human history. Our common conscience is now being tested by the disaster in Gaza. Our very humanity is at stake,” the King said.
“For eight months and without stopping until now, the residents of Gaza have been facing death and destruction, the extent of which far exceeds any other conflict in more than twenty years. The specter of famine looms on the horizon. Psychological trauma is always present, and its effects will remain for generations to come. Every place in Gaza is vulnerable to destruction,” the Jordanian King added.
The conference, held at the invitation of King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aims to strengthen the international community’s response to the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip by identifying effective mechanisms and steps for operational and logistical needs.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced additional assistance amounting to 16 million euros, emphasizing the global expectation for tangible actions to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. Sanchez commended US diplomatic efforts while urging both Hamas and Israel to seize the opportunity for peace.
Prabowo Subianto, the incoming leader of Indonesia, reiterated his country’s readiness to provide medical aid and evacuation support. Stressing the importance of a two-state solution, Subianto emphasized the need for a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.
The summit also highlighted the dire aid needs in Gaza, where Israel’s military offensive has killed over 37,164 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and displaced nearly the entire population. Despite efforts to provide assistance, access to Gaza remains severely restricted, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and nearly all of its 2.4 million people were displaced by the war that began on October 7.
Guterres on Tuesday said that since the closure of the border, “the flow of critical humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza — which was already woefully inadequate — has plummeted by two-thirds”.
He estimated that more than 50,000 children required treatment for acute malnutrition.
