Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Days after India abstained from voting at the United Nations General Assembly on a Jordan-introduced resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Mohamed El Kayed, Amman’s Ambassador to Delhi, said India’s call was a sovereign decision and Jordan respected it.
“India had taken abstention to try to stay in the middle, to have a role in the future on both sides,” Kayed said in an interview to The Indian Express Wednesday.
Last week, India skipped the vote on the resolution which did not mention Hamas or the Israelis taken hostage during the Hamas attacks on October 7. The resolution, which was not binding, was carried with 120 votes in favour, 14 against, 45 abstentions.
“We understand very well that each country takes this position according to their interests. That’s India’s decision and we don’t interfere in that,” he said.
Jordan, he said, also recognises that India is getting involved in international issues very actively and can play some positive role in ending the war.
“As an emerging power in the world now, and after the initiatives it took like the G20 and Voice of Global South Summit, India can play a bigger role,” he said.
A day after Israel pounded the biggest refugee camp in Gaza, causing civilian casualties, and also escalating ground attacks, Kayed said that’s exactly what Israel wished to do – to displace and transfer people, and Jordan was completely opposed to it. In fact, all Arab countries were united in this, he said, adding that it was a red line for all of them.
On October 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dialled King Abdullah II of Jordan and discussed violence, terror and the loss of civilian lives.
“Exchanged views on the developments in the West Asia region. We share concerns regarding terrorism, violence and loss of civilian lives. Concerted efforts needed for early resolution of the security and humanitarian situation,” Modi had posted on X.
Kayed said that during his speech in Cairo, in the wake of the war, the King had spoken about this very clearly. “His Majesty had said that there is human suffering, and that should end. People are getting killed – including children, women and the elderly.
But, he said, the problem was not new. “We are talking about over 50-60 years of the Palestinian problems, so we are not new to the situation. There was some military action before between Gaza and Israel in 2014 and 2018,” he said.
The need of the hour, he said, was to effect a ceasefire and prevent the loss of more civilian lives.
Kayed said Jordan was very supportive of the two-state solution for the Palestinian problem. “We always say that solving the Palestinian problem is of top interest to the Jordanian people, as the Jordanians and Palestinians are intertwined,” he said.
El Kayed speaks to Divya A about India’s abstention at UNGA on the resolution for immediate ceasefire brought in by Jordan, the future of the Israel-Hamas war and possible solutions, and why Arab countries won’t take in people displaced by the war. Edited excerpts:
I hope so. I hope that we witness a ceasefire in order to save the lives of the children and others dying in Gaza because of the Israeli bombardment.
Jordan has submitted a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling for an immediate ceasefire. The war has been on for over three weeks now and over 8,000 people have been killed so far. The war must stop in order to let humanitarian aid reach Gaza.
This is a sovereign decision by India and we respect that. We understand very well that each country takes a position according to their interests. That’s India’s decision and we don’t interfere in that. On the other hand, we think, India has an important role to play concerning humanitarian aid and the historic Indian position regarding the problems Palestinians face for long. So, India had abstained from the voting to stay in the middle, to have a role in the future on both sides. I reiterate that this is an Indian decision and we respect the way India took their stand.
I think India can — as an emerging power in the world now and after the initiatives it took like the G20 and Voice of Global South dialogue and all those things. India is getting involved in international issues very actively and they can play some positive role in ending the war and saving people’s lives.
I think Jordan was very clear on this. We call for the release of all hostages, regardless of which side (they come from) and even the resolution submitted to the UN that was adopted by the General Assembly called for the release of all hostages regardless of what’s happening. Innocent people ought to be freed.
Actually, you should know that the problem is not new. We’re talking about over 50-60 years of the Palestinian problems, so we are not new to the situation. There was some military action between Gaza and Israel in the past as well — 2014 and 2018.
His Majesty (King Abdullah II of Jordan), in his speech in Cairo, was very clear about this – that there is human suffering, and that should end. People are getting killed – including children, women and the elderly. Her Majesty (Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan) also stressed on the need to end the hostility and to save people’s lives.
We in Jordan are very supportive of the two-state solution for the Palestinian problem. And we always say that solving the Palestinian problem is of utmost interest to Jordan, as the lives of Jordanians and Palestinians are intertwined. So, we call for a ceasefire in order to save lives.
The word war is simplifying the matter; it’s a genocide. So, war is not the right term to use, and Israel has always treated the Palestinians in a harsh way. You should ask Israelis when they’re going to stop. Mostly, the whole world is asking for the war to stop. It’s the responsibility of Israelis: they are invading Gaza, putting their tanks and artillery in Gaza, killing whoever is showing up.
It’s not putting responsibility. Her Majesty was saying that Palestinian women and mothers are suffering as well. Why is this different look for the problems faced by Palestinians? We should have international standards regarding this, whether it’s a Palestinian, a Ukrainian, or a Jordanian. No double-standards should be applied here.
Israel wishes to displace and transfer people. We are completely opposed to that and we will not accept that. And, I think, all Arab countries are united on this, no more transfer or displacement by the Israeli forces; that’s a red line for all Arab countries.
I think the UN was very clear; the Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) was very clear in his speech. But would the Israelis allow the UN to work in Gaza? Would they allow the UN agency to do their job in Gaza or not? What I have been saying is that nobody can do his job in Gaza because of the Israeli invasion.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
