Members of both the UK House of Commons and House of Lords, representing the Labor, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties, have lauded Jordan's significant role in achieving regional stability and its continuous humanitarian support for the Gaza Strip.
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They highlighted the Kingdom's efforts, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in delivering crucial humanitarian aid and alleviating the suffering of Palestinian civilians caused by the Israeli war on Gaza.
The commendations came in exclusive interviews with the Jordan News Agency (Petra) correspondent in London, on the sidelines of a visit by a Jordanian parliamentary delegation to the British House of Commons.
The Jordanian delegation, headed by MP Zuhair Khashman, included MPs Ibrahim Tarawneh, Mohammad Maharmeh, Omar Khawaldeh, Hussein Tarawneh, and Tamara Nassereddin. The visit was at the invitation of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
British parliamentarians affirmed the robust Jordanian-British relations, noting that Jordan is a strategic partner for the United Kingdom in security and peace matters.
They stressed Jordan's central role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of international support for Jordanian efforts aimed at ending the humanitarian suffering in the Strip and promoting regional stability.
Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the British Group of the IPU, stated, "Jordan plays an important role in consolidating stability in the Middle East."
He affirmed that the Kingdom, under King Abdullah II's leadership, is at the forefront of humanitarian initiatives for Gaza, describing Jordan's efforts in delivering humanitarian support as "a model of practical and effective solidarity."
Hamilton added that three main factors make Jordan an effective force in the region: its vital geographical location, its political stability, and the wise leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who continues the legacy of the late King Hussein bin Talal.
Recalling his first official visit to Jordan in 2016 as Shadow Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamilton mentioned meeting Jordanian officials and visiting the Zaatari refugee camp, saying, "The visit gave me a deep understanding of the scale of the humanitarian role Jordan bears."
He noted, "British public opinion is shocked by the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and appreciates the Jordanian role in alleviating that suffering." He pointed out that "aid delivery to Gaza depends to a large extent on Jordan, including cooperation with UNRWA," stressing the importance of continued coordination between Jordan and Britain, especially in the humanitarian field. "Jordan is our closest ally in the region and the most capable of effectively delivering aid to Gaza," he said.
Baroness Gloria Dorothy Hooper, a member of the House of Lords, emphasized the strategic importance of Jordan's role in promoting stability and achieving peace in the Middle East.
She praised Jordan's geopolitical position in the heart of the region, its reputation as a stable and balanced country, and the close ties between the royal families of Jordan and the United Kingdom, considering this a significant factor in supporting bilateral coordination and mutual understanding.
She noted that the Jordanian parliamentary delegation's visit came at a critical time and contributed to conveying an accurate and realistic picture of the situation on the ground, adding that such parliamentary meetings are an important platform for exchanging views and coordinating efforts.
Baroness Hooper confirmed that "despite growing pressure in Parliament on the British government to take more measures to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, we need to increase and redouble these efforts." She concluded by affirming that the two-state solution remains the most realistic option for achieving lasting peace, noting that a majority of British parliamentarians adopt and strongly support this position.
Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Jordan Group, underscored the importance of the strategic relationship between the UK and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, describing it as "long-standing and extremely important" amidst the volatile conditions in the Middle East.
"We view Jordan as a reliable and stable partner in a region suffering from increasing instability. From this perspective, partnership with Jordan gains special importance, not only for its role in achieving regional stability but also for its pivotal humanitarian contributions amidst the escalating crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories," Carmichael said.
He added, "The situation in Gaza is continuously deteriorating, making support for Jordanian humanitarian efforts a top priority," noting that Jordan plays a vital role as an effective mediator in the region and contributes to facilitating aid delivery to Gaza, alongside its permanent commitment to humanitarian causes.
MP Afzal Khan expressed his appreciation for Jordan's consistent role in supporting the Palestinian cause, stating, "Jordan is not only a geographical neighbor to Palestine but also a strong and rational voice in defending the Palestinian people and their rights."
He continued, "We are living through painful times; it is difficult to watch the daily suffering of the Palestinian people on television, but through Jordan's efforts, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, we see continuous attempts to deliver aid to Gaza and show solidarity with its people."
Khan added that "Jordan's efforts to deliver aid to Gaza and seek a ceasefire express a humanitarian and political commitment that must be supported by the international community." He called on the British government to take bolder steps, starting with the official and immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, considering this step "will send a clear message to the world and restore balance to the peace process."
Khan added, "Justice cannot be achieved without recognizing legitimate Palestinian rights, and there can be no talk of lasting peace unless the injustice against the Palestinian people is lifted."
Baroness Margaret Patricia Curran, a member of the House of Lords, affirmed that the UK views Jordan as a pivotal partner in international efforts to establish peace and end humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip. "We highly value the role of the Jordanian leadership and its continuous efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza," said Baroness Curran.
She stressed that the British government has clearly expressed its rejection of the suffering of civilians in Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and confirmed there is "strong movement within the British Parliament – both in the House of Lords and the House of Commons – to press for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, whether by land or air."
She added that the Jordanian parliamentary delegation's visit "contributes to broadening British MPs' understanding of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip and Jordan's tireless efforts to deal with it."
Similarly, Baroness Manzila Pola Uddin, a member of the House of Lords, expressed her appreciation for Jordan's role on both religious and humanitarian fronts. "Jordan has always been the voice of reason amidst the conflicts in the region, and today it continues its pivotal role in delivering aid to Gaza, an exemplary humanitarian model," she said.
"Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, has played a leading role in promoting religious dialogue and consolidating values of tolerance. Today, it continues this approach in alleviating the suffering of peoples affected by conflicts and wars, especially in Gaza. The world must listen to Jordan's voice to end the suffering of the Strip's population." Baroness Uddin affirmed that "Jordan's hosting of refugees and providing them with humanitarian support is a model to be emulated, and the international community must support Jordan's efforts in hosting these refugees, in addition to its efforts to end the ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza."
MP Alex Sobel praised the "historic and important" role Jordan plays in supporting the Palestinian cause, stressing that the Kingdom hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees since the conflict began.
Sobel added that Jordan and the UK are working together to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the need to continue this cooperation to ensure support reaches Palestinians. He affirmed that the final solution to the conflict must include the establishment of a Palestinian state on the June 4th lines, encompassing all occupied Palestinian territories.
MP Bambos Charalambous stated that Jordan represents a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East, asserting that Jordan is "the most qualified country to play a leading role in delivering aid to Gaza due to its regional and international standing and reputation."
Charalambous confirmed that Jordanian-British coordination in aid delivery is ongoing and continuously strengthening, calling for its support within a broad international framework. He noted that "the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza cannot be dealt with by individual efforts or through a single country alone, but through broad international partnerships." He concluded by emphasizing that "Jordan is not only a partner in humanitarian efforts but a strategic ally relied upon for achieving security and prosperity in the region in the long term."
