Jordan Times
Monday, June 7, 2010
Jordan seeks to end Gaza
blockade
By Omar Obeidat
AMMAN –– Jordan is seeking a complete end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, Foreign
Minister Nasser Judeh said on Sunday, adding that it has already broken the
siege through frequent aid convoys and its military hospital in Gaza.
During a meeting with members of the press to brief them on current regional
issues, the foreign minister indicated that Jordan is working with Arab and
regional countries to have the UN issue a decision committing Israel to lifting
its illegal siege on Palestinians in Gaza.
The international community should shoulder its responsibilities and take
serious measures to immediately lift the illegal Israeli blockade on the Gaza
Strip, Judeh continued, adding that Israel should halt all its unilateral and
provocative measures against the Palestinians.
On the recent Israeli attack on the international aid flotilla that attempted to
break the Gaza blockade, Judeh quoted His Majesty King Abdullah, who described
it as a “crime and a clear violation of international law”, indicating that
Jordan will continue to send aid convoys to alleviate the suffering of
Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave.
Last week, King Abdullah urged authorities to dispatch more aid convoys of
relief supplies from Jordan to the Gaza Strip through the Jordan Hashemite
Charity Organisation (JHCO), which has been in charge of sending aid to Gaza for
over a year.
Several aid convoys loaded with relief materials, foodstuff and medical supplies
left for Gaza last week upon King Abdullah’s directives, and on Saturday, a
six-truck humanitarian shipment left Amman carrying medical supplies to the
army-run hospital in Gaza.
Since the Israeli blockade on Gaza started in 2008, the JHCO has dispatched 87
aid convoys loaded with over 16,740 tonnes of assistance worth more than $33
million, according to official figures.
The total value of Jordanian aid sent to Palestine since 2000 is $113 million,
according to the statistics.