The following is a transcript of an interview with Dina Kawar, Jordanian Ambassador to the U.S., that aired on Nov. 19, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're going to turn now to Jordan's ambassador to the United States, Dina Kawar. Ambassador, good to have you here in person.
AMBASSADOR DINA KAWAR: Thank you very much, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So before the war, there were more than 2 million children in Gaza, estimated 4600 had been killed in the past few weeks. And for those who do survive, many of them are disabled. I wonder what you think this does to the security of the region, to have these next generations so impacted?
Ambassador Kawar expressed concern over the escalating violence in Gaza and the impact it is having on the humanitarian situation. She highlighted the significant loss of life, including journalists and medical professionals, and the strain it is placing on UNRWA, which is currently providing assistance to over 830,000 internally displaced people in Gaza. She questioned the effectiveness of the military strategy being employed and urged for a more strategic approach to address the underlying issues. Ambassador Kawar emphasized the need for international intervention to prevent further violence and stabilize the region.
According to reports, a significant number of children, estimated at around 4600, have lost their lives in Gaza. The exact number is difficult to ascertain as the Gaza Health Ministry and the United States government lack access to accurately count the casualties. The situation is dire, and even the US government is unable to enter the area to assess the situation.
The government has resorted to airdropping medical aid to support the limited number of personnel already present on the ground. Unfortunately, a field hospital was targeted in an attack, raising concerns about the safety and security of medical facilities. The responsible party behind the attack remains unknown.
Let me ask you, because Jordan has had a peace treaty with Israel for 30 years, you have trade, you have all sorts of contact with them. Do you worry that the next generation of Jordanians or the surrounding countries will not be able to maintain the peace that they have had for decades because of what's happening now?
Well there's a lot of pressure--
Is it destabilizing?
According to Ambassador Kawar, the current situation in the region is causing a lot of pressure on His Majesty and the government. People are angry and feel humiliated by the ongoing conflict. The Ambassador calls for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations, emphasizing that being pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian means advocating for peace. The settlers in the West Bank are behaving unlawfully and violently towards Palestinians, with daily attacks and mistreatment. They are also targeting Armenian quarters and Christian worshippers in Jerusalem. The Ambassador expresses concern about the settlers' actions and hopes that they will be stopped. The President's op-ed mentioning the issue of settlements is appreciated by the Ambassador. The White House has promised to provide more updates on the situation in the coming week.
Thank you, Ambassador Kawar.
