'Jordan to never be alternative homeland for Palestinians': King Abdullah's speech to UN

Jordan's King Abdullah II has unequivocally rejected the notion of Jordan serving as an "alternative homeland" for Palestinians.

In his address at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2024, King Abdullah II condemned the idea as both impractical and a violation of Palestinian rights, stressing that any forced displacement of Palestinians would constitute a war crime that Jordan would never accept.

The King’s speech, delivered amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, was a call for the global community to unite in addressing the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the implementation of a two-state solution and immediate humanitarian interventions.

King Abdullah’s speech was focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he described as a crisis nearing catastrophic proportions.

The Jordanian monarch criticized both Israel's military actions in Gaza and its broader treatment of Palestinians, framing the situation as a dire humanitarian emergency that demands urgent international intervention.

He condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza stating, ''I grew up in a soldier, in a region that is all too familiar with conflict. But there is nothing familiar about this war and the violence unleashed since October 7.''

He opened his speech by condemning extremists in the region for pushing the Middle East to the brink of "an all-out war."

He specifically referenced the dangerous proposition, advanced by some, that Jordan should become a substitute homeland for Palestinians displaced by Israeli actions, and firmly rejected this notion.

“Let me be very, very clear,” the King said, “This will never happen. We will never accept the forced displacement of Palestinians, which is a war crime.”

King Abdullah did not mince words in accusing Israel of deliberately targeting the Palestinian population, asserting that the ongoing war in Gaza has disproportionately harmed civilians.

He referenced the devastating Palestinian death toll, claiming that over 40,000 Palestinians had been killed since the conflict erupted.

In his remarks, he contrasted Israel's claims that many of the casualties were militants with the vast number of civilian deaths, asking, “How can this war not be perceived as deliberately targeting the Palestinians?”

King Abdullah highlighted the mass displacement of civilians in Gaza, calling the scale of destruction and loss of life unprecedented.

He stated that no justification could defend the levels of civilian suffering inflicted by Israeli military operations, especially when targeting densely populated areas like Gaza.

The Jordanian monarch also criticized Israel for undermining international law and specifically for attacking United Nations sites in Gaza, including schools and shelters.

He lamented that the UN’s sky-blue flag, meant to protect civilians, had been rendered “powerless” in the face of Israeli bombardment.

King Abdullah called on the international community to stand up for the principles of international law, human rights, and the authority of global institutions like the UN.

“The rulings of the UN’s International Court of Justice are defied, its opinions disregarded.

The harsh reality many see is that some nations are above international law, that global justice bends to the will of power, and that human rights are selective, a privilege to be granted or denied at will,” King Abdullah said, pointing to what he sees as the diminishing moral authority of the United Nations in the face of unchecked aggression.

King Abdullah strongly urged the international community to refocus on the two-state solution, the long-proposed answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

He emphasized that global attention must now be directed at ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, stating that “It is the moral duty of this international community to establish a protection mechanism for them across the occupied Palestinian territory.”

The King recalled the Arab Peace Initiative, first introduced in 2002, which offered Israel full normalization with Arab states in exchange for a complete withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders with minor land swaps.

He lamented that, despite such efforts from the Arab world, Israel has continued to reject these overtures in favor of confrontation.

“For years, the Arab world has extended a hand to Israel through the Arab Peace Initiative, offering full recognition and normalization [with Israel] in exchange for peace,” King Abdullah said. “Consecutive Israeli governments, emboldened by years of impunity, have rejected peace and chosen confrontation instead.”

King Abdullah further argued that Israel’s long-standing impunity is now beginning to backfire, contributing to instability both within Israel and across the broader region.

“Now Israel’s decades-long impunity is becoming its own worst enemy, and the consequences are everywhere,” he said.

The King pointed to the ongoing violence and chaos that has enveloped Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond as evidence that Israel's actions are undermining its own security.

He described the war’s repercussions as not just local but global, warning that continued inaction would set a dangerous precedent for international relations and human rights around the world.

“In the absence of global accountability, repeated horrors are normalized, threatening to create a future where anything is permitted, anywhere in the world.”

Beyond the political and legal aspects of the conflict, King Abdullah also made an emotional appeal for immediate humanitarian relief for Palestinians.

He called on the United Nations to establish humanitarian corridors and gateways to allow essential aid such as food, clean water, and medical supplies to flow into Gaza, where civilians are suffering from acute shortages.

He condemned the use of humanitarian aid as a “tool of war,” and stressed that the world must act swiftly to alleviate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians.

“Now is the time to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people,” King Abdullah stated. “Humanitarian aid should never be weaponized or withheld as a means of pressure in conflict.”

King Abdullah’s address to the UN General Assembly was a clarion call for decisive international action to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and protect the rights of Palestinians.

He placed the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the international community, warning that the failure to act would only perpetuate the cycle of violence and injustice.

“We must ensure that history will not judge us by our failure to act, but by the courage we show in taking decisive steps for peace and justice,” the King concluded.

He urged the UN and its member states to unite in support of a two-state solution and to protect the Palestinian people from further suffering.

His statements come in light of escalating regional tensions as 41,467 people have been killed and 95,921 wounded in Israels war on Gaza while tens of thousands have ben forced to flee Southern Lebanon with little idea where to find safety as intense Israeli bombardmnt across Lebanon kills at least 569 people, including 50 children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

 

 

 

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