Jordanian Foreign Minister Says Israeli PM Uses Confrontation with Iran to Divert Attention from Gaza

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. (Twitter/@AymanHsafadi)

JAKARTA - Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Monday that he believed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was using the dispute with Iran to divert attention from the war in the Gaza Strip.

"The Israeli Prime Minister has always wanted to have a confrontation with Iran. Now, when international pressure on Israel to stop its aggression against Gaza continues, inviting war with Iran is something that, in our opinion, can reduce that pressure and can divert attention from Gaza," said Foreign Minister Safadi told CNN, as quoted on April 16.

"The problem is in Gaza and the West Bank, and our focus must continue to be on this because if we don't solve it, it is possible that regional escalation will continue," stressed Foreign Minister Safadi.

He further said that regarding the Iranian attack, Jordan would do whatever it could to protect the kingdom, explaining why the country intercepted several drones and missiles that entered its airspace on Saturday evening.

"What we are doing is consistent with our long-standing policy and any projectile, drone, anything that enters our territory historically and we will continue to deal with it because it is a threat to Jordan," stressed Foreign Minister Safadi.

"We were within firing range and any missile or projectile that fell in Jordan would harm Jordan. So we did what we had to do and let me be clear. We will do the same wherever the drone comes from. From Israel, from Iran, from anyone," he added.

Separately, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Monday that the death toll of Palestinians in the enclave had reached 33,797, quoted by Xinhua.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli soldiers killed 68 Palestinians and injured 94 others. The total number of injured reached 76,465 people, since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, according to the ministry.