Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Manama, Bahrain, November 18, 2023. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, expressed skepticism on Saturday about Israel’s ability to achieve its goal of eradicating Hamas through its intensive bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip, a territory long under the control of the Palestinian Islamist movement. Speaking at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, Safadi questioned the feasibility of Israel’s objective, stating, “Israel says it wants to wipe out Hamas. There’s a lot of military people here, I just don’t understand how this objective can be realized.”
Israel has declared its intent to eliminate Hamas, particularly following the militant group’s cross-border rampage into Israeli communities on October 7. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant destruction in Gaza City, with casualties on both sides, primarily affecting civilians.
Saudi Arabia, a regional power, called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas at the conference. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the urgency, stating, “We are seeing civilians dying every day. And we need to end that today, not tomorrow.”
Israel has insisted on a ceasefire contingent on the release of 240 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. In response, Hamas has vowed to continue a prolonged and sustained battle against Israel.
Brett McGurk, U.S. President Joe Biden’s top adviser on the Middle East, addressed the conference, suggesting that the release of hostages held by Hamas would lead to increased humanitarian aid delivery and a significant pause in the Gaza conflict.
The question of governance in Gaza post-conflict has become a prominent concern. Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal attributed the crisis to the long-standing failure to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, emphasizing the collective responsibility to find a solution.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asserted that only the Palestinian Authority (PA), which currently exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, could govern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war. Borrell stated, “Hamas cannot be in control of Gaza any longer,” pointing to the PA as the potential governing authority.
However, the PA’s ability to administer Gaza depends on achieving a full political solution, including progress towards Palestinian statehood. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed openness to PA involvement in Gaza under such conditions.
The ongoing Gaza conflict has raised concerns about potential radicalization across the wider Middle East. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, warned against a protracted crisis, stating, “The longer the crisis takes, the more danger we have of the crisis spiraling out of control.” UAE and other Gulf Arab states view Hamas and other Islamists as threats to regional stability.
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