The king of Jordan poured cold water on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s hopes that neighboring Arab countries could take in Palestinian refugees who are fleeing the Gaza Strip ahead of an anticipated ground offensive by the Israeli army.
The rebuff by King Abdullah II was made Tuesday morning at a press conference with Scholz following a meeting in the chancellery in Berlin, which Scholz also used to issue a warning to Iran and to Hezbollah against intervening in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“I think I can speak here on behalf of Jordan … but also our friends in Egypt: This is a red line … no refugees to Jordan and also no refugees to Egypt,” King Abdullah said at the press conference.
This is unsurprising. They still remember the coup attempt from 1970. This gives them the ability to show support without actually doing anything. In some ways this is tacit consent from Jordan and Egypt to allow Israel to wipe out Hamas.
It will also make it more likely that there will be a humanitarian crisis in Gaza very soon.
There already is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
There’s been a humanitarian crisis in Gaza for decades bud.