Washington — Jordan's ambassador to the U.S. said her country is calling for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas because her country's leaders believe the conflict will fuel radicalism.
Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar told "Face the Nation" on Sunday that up to 18,000 children could be orphaned from the war in Gaza.
"What do we do with that?" she asked. "Some studies have shown that some of the Hamas — the majority of Hamas fighters were orphans. Our call here is for a cease-fire. … Not because we want to think differently from the rest of the world, but because we feel that with the Arab countries and with Islamic countries, this is the only way forward to stop this war and to sit around the table and go back to negotiations."
The Jordanian Ambassador to the U.S., Dina Kawar, has raised concerns about the Israeli military's strategy in Gaza. Kawar questioned the decision to order civilians to evacuate the northern half of the territory in preparation for a ground invasion following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas militants. She also highlighted that Israel has now told Palestinians to leave parts of southern Gaza.
Kawar expressed her worry that this strategy of displacement is only leading to more violence and putting pressure on the region. She emphasized the need for strategic thinking and called on the international community to address the situation.
King Abdullah of Jordan has also criticized the Israeli offensive and called for an immediate cease-fire to protect innocent Palestinians and allow humanitarian aid into the region.
U.S. officials have stated that anything more than a temporary cease-fire would empower Hamas, while Israel remains committed to destroying the militant group.
"The ongoing conflict is placing immense pressure on the monarchy and the government, as the people of Jordan are becoming increasingly angry," expressed Kawar when discussing the potential impact of the war on relations between Jordan and Israel. "With the constant exposure to distressing images, we are all feeling a deep sense of humiliation, hurt, and disbelief. This situation is inhumane, and we are left questioning how much further it will escalate. Our plea is for an immediate cease-fire and a return to negotiations."
