Queen Rania of Jordan denounced the “world’s silence” over the situation in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, saying she was “shocked” by the “reaction” of Western countries.
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“The people of the Middle East… are shocked and disappointed by the world’s response to the catastrophe that is now unfolding. Over the past two weeks, we have seen that there is a double standard,” she said in an exclusive interview with CNN that aired on Wednesday.
She added: “When October 7 happened, the world immediately and unequivocally supported Israel and its right to defend itself and condemned the attack that occurred,” referring to the unprecedented attack carried out by Hamas on Israeli territory.
According to authorities, more than 1,400 people were killed on the Israeli side, most of them civilians killed on the day of the attack that sparked a deadly war between the Palestinian Islamic movement and Israel.
Since then, in response, the Israeli army has bombed the Gaza Strip with the aim of “eliminating” Hamas and recapturing some 220 people who were being held hostage. More than 6,500 Palestinians, most of them civilians, including more than 2,700 children, were killed in this Israeli bombing, according to local authorities.
In the Palestinian territories besieged by Israel, hospitals have closed due to fuel shortages, and 2.4 million Palestinians are deprived of water and electricity. Many organizations have warned that the humanitarian conditions are catastrophic.
The Queen of Jordan said: “What we have witnessed for several weeks is silence in the world.” She expressed her regret, saying: “This is the first time in modern history that there is such human suffering and the world does not even call for a ceasefire,” and described the Western world as “complicit.”
Many Western governments have expressed their support for Israel, while urging it to respect international law as the Israeli army continues its bombing and prepares for a ground attack.
On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” and condemned “clear violations of humanitarian law” in the Palestinian territories.
Thousands of people demonstrated across the Arab world, including the Jordanian capital, Amman, to express their support for the people of Gaza.
Israel and its allies have so far rejected calls for a general ceasefire, which the White House says will only benefit Hamas.
