Jordan recalls ambassador from Israel over Gaza war

(Patria) - Jordan announced it has recalled its ambassador from Israel in protest against the bombing of Gaza, saying Israel's attacks have killed innocents and caused a humanitarian catastrophe, reported Reuters.

The ambassador would return to Tel Aviv only if Israel stops its war in the enclave and ends the "humanitarian crisis it has caused," said Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

"This is to express Jordan's stance, which rejects and condemns the Israeli war in Gaza that is killing innocents and causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," Safadi said, adding that the decision was also made because Israel was denying Palestinians food, water, and medicine.

Israel's ambassador to Jordan, who left two weeks ago amid protests, will only be allowed to return under the same conditions, the minister said.

Israel said it regretted the Jordanian government's decision, adding that it was focused on waging war against Hamas following a bloody attack that killed hundreds of Israelis. Jordan has stepped up diplomatic efforts to pressure Israel to end the war, which has brought "dangerous risks" of the conflict spreading across the region and threatening global peace, Safadi said.

The conflict has fueled long-standing fears in Jordan, where a large population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants live, that a wider conflict would give Israel an opportunity to expel Palestinians from the West Bank. Jordan, which shares a border with the West Bank, absorbed most of the Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes when Israel was created.

King Abdullah said on Wednesday that Israel's "military and security solution" against Palestinians would not succeed, adding that the only path to a just and comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace is through negotiations leading to a two-state solution.

Many Jordanians have organized daily protests, calling on the authorities to close the Israeli embassy and to abrogate the unpopular 1994 peace agreement between Israel and Jordan.

The main opposition, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, has called for nationwide protests on Friday in support of Hamas, which now enjoys widespread popularity among many Jordanians.