Queen Rania of Jordan hits out at Western ‘double standards’ over war in Gaza

Jordan's Queen Rania on Saturday hit out at Western double standards on Israel’s war on Gaza, which she said have contributed to a "loss of faith in the rules and moral standards meant to govern our world." (X/@Ambrosetti_)
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Updated 07 September 2024
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Queen Rania of Jordan hits out at Western ‘double standards’ over war in Gaza

  • Speaking at a conference in Italy, she says the result of this is ‘loss of faith in the rules and moral standards meant to govern our world’
  • People deserve a ‘system they can trust, free of prejudice, moral loopholes and deadly blind spots’ and ‘trust in that system has become intrinsically tied’ to fate of Palestinians, she adds

LONDON: Jordan’s Queen Rania on Saturday criticized what she described as Western “double standards” regarding the war in Gaza, which she said are contributing to a “loss of faith in the rules and moral standards meant to govern our world.”

Speaking at the 50th European House Ambrosetti Forum, an annual economic conference in Cernobbio, Italy, the queen said that in the aftermath of global wars and other bloody conflicts in Europe during the 20th century the international community established a number of global institutions with the aim of preventing similar violence.

“The people of the world deserve a global system they can trust, free of prejudice, moral loopholes and deadly blind spots. And trust in that system has become intrinsically tied to the fate of the Palestinian people,” she said as she urged European countries to weigh their responses to the conflict in Gaza against their proclaimed values.

“From the United Nations to the International Court of Justice to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the world came together to establish norms for a future better than its past, a future based on the values of the UN Charter: peace, justice and human rights,” she said.

However, many people around the world are struggling to maintain their belief in the integrity and impartiality of these norms, Queen Rania added.

“Looking at Israel’s war in Gaza, they see a glaring double standard or, worse yet, a seeming abdication of any standards at all,” she said.

Over the past 11 months, the Gaza Strip had been hit by an estimated 70,000 tonnes of bombs, the queen continued, which is “more than all bombs dropped on London, Hamburg and Dresden throughout all of the Second World War.”

She noted that almost the entire population of Gaza is facing acute food insecurity, and denounced Israeli obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries while Palestinian children are starving.

She also highlighted other ways in which the war is taking a high toll on Gaza’s children, pointing out that the conflict has resulted in more child amputees than any other.

“Doctors describe the horror of amputating on children too young to walk,” Queen Rania said. “According to Save the Children, over 20,000 children are estimated to be lost, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves.”

She said it has been nearly eight months since the highest court in the world, the International Court of Justice, ruled it was “plausible” that Israel is committing acts of genocide in Gaza, and noted that authorities in the country also recently launched a wide-ranging military assault on the West Bank.

“For decades, beginning before last October, Palestinians have been subjected to a crushing, criminal occupation,” she said. “Palestinians, too, have the right to live in security and peace. And yet, here we are, still.

“Is the world saying that Israel’s security is more important than anyone else’s and, therefore, nothing is off-limits in its pursuit? That no level of Palestinian suffering is too high a price to pay?

“This devaluation of life must be called out for what it is: anti-Palestinian racism. This failure cannot stand.”

The queen said that Europe has long positioned itself as a champion of international law and human rights, adding: “What is the Global South supposed to think when they see the West stand up for the people of Ukraine while leaving innocent civilians in Gaza to unprecedented collective punishment? What conclusions are people to draw about who matters, who doesn’t, and why?

“More than hypocritical, the double standard is dehumanizing. It is cruel. And if it isn’t racist, I don’t know what is. That’s why rejecting double standards, demanding accountability, and finding a common path to peace are necessary to create the future that Palestinians, Israelis and all of us deserve.”

Queen Rania went on to highlight a number of basic, “indisputable” principles that could provide a shared foundation for the warring parties to build on, and which must be upheld to achieve a mutual, sustainable peace.

They included the respect for international law and basic human rights, the countering of extremist voices in debates surrounding Israel and Palestine, and the need to ensure human dignity at all times.

The conference in Cernobbio brought together Italian and international decision-makers to examine and discuss geopolitical, economic, technological and social scenarios.

Other officials and heads of state that participated included Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell.


Palestinian vice president discusses Gaza, West Bank with Qatar’s prime minister

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Palestinian vice president discusses Gaza, West Bank with Qatar’s prime minister

  • Hussein Al-Sheikh calls for Palestinian Authority to take on civil, security responsibilities in Gaza
  • Qatari official briefed on latest developments in West Bank

LONDON: Hussein Al-Sheikh, the vice president of Palestine, has discussed in Doha the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and West Bank with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

Al-Sheikh spoke of the Palestinian stance on Gaza, calling for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave to allow the Palestinian Authority to take on civil and security responsibilities, the Palestine News Agency reported.

The officials looked at the preparations for the upcoming Arab League Summit in Baghdad and the anticipated visit of US President Donald Trump to the region this week.

Al-Sheikh also briefed the Qatari official on the latest developments in the West Bank, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Qatar’s prime minister reaffirmed his country’s strong support for the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the importance of international law and the establishment of a Palestinian state, the WAFA Agency added.

Al-Sheikh was appointed vice president by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after being selected as the deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in April.

He met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh last week during his first regional visit following his appointment.


UK maritime agency reports incident northwest of UAE port

Updated 11 May 2025
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UK maritime agency reports incident northwest of UAE port

CAIRO: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday it received a report of an incident 80 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates’ Jebel Ali port.
UKMTO said a vessel in the area reported a small craft colliding with it and was seen attempting to collide with other vessels in the area, adding that all crew were safe.


Gaza war cannot be solved by military means, says German foreign minister in Jerusalem

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (L), accompanied by his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, gives a press conference.
Updated 11 May 2025
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Gaza war cannot be solved by military means, says German foreign minister in Jerusalem

  • “That is why we are appealing for a return to serious negotiations on a ceasefire,” Wadephul said
  • He also said it was clear that Gaza is part of the Palestinian territory

JERUSALEM: The conflict in Gaza cannot be solved by military means and a political solution must be found to end the war permanently, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Jerusalem on Sunday.
“I do not believe that this conflict can be permanently resolved by military means,” Wadephul said. “Nevertheless, it is urgently necessary that Hamas is disarmed and that it can no longer have military control over Gaza.”
He said that Germany would do whatever it takes to guarantee Israel’s security, but this does not mean that his country cannot criticize Israel’s course of action, adding that this “must not lead to antisemitism.”
Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023 killed 1,200 people and 251 were taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israel. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
“I am not sure whether all of Israel’s strategic goals can be achieved in this way (through a military campaign) and whether this will serve Israel’s security in the long term,” Wadephul said. “That is why we are appealing for a return to serious negotiations on a ceasefire.”
Wadephul repeated that the return of hostages is the German government’s priority. He also said it was clear that Gaza is part of the Palestinian territory.
“We need a political solution for the reconstruction of Gaza without Hamas,” Wadephul said.


UAE launches 4th phase of Gaza water supply project

A Palestinian man drinks water to cool off during a demonstration against the siege of Gaza and in solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosqu
Updated 11 May 2025
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UAE launches 4th phase of Gaza water supply project

  • The UAE-supported project focuses on maintaining and restoring central wells across Gaza’s municipalities, ensuring the continuity of essential water services

DUBAI: The UAE has launched the fourth phase of its humanitarian water supply initiative in the Gaza Strip this week.
The project is part of the ongoing “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3,” aimed at alleviating the suffering of Palestinian civilians amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The UAE-supported project focuses on maintaining and restoring central wells across Gaza’s municipalities, ensuring the continuity of essential water services.
This latest phase includes the repair of 28 non-operational wells across several governorates, a move expected to benefit nearly 700,000 residents.
Sharif Al-Nayrab, media director for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, praised the long-standing support of Emirati humanitarian organizations for Gaza’s critical sectors.
“This initiative reflects the UAE’s firm commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, especially during times of acute need,” he said.
This is the fourth water-related project implemented under the UAE initiative.
Earlier phases included daily distribution of water via tankers, the drilling of emergency wells along southern coastal areas and the construction of submersible wells to increase supply.
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has provided critical relief and development efforts across Gaza, delivering food, health and utility support.


Israeli army says body of soldier missing for 43 years found in ‘heart of Syria’

Updated 11 May 2025
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Israeli army says body of soldier missing for 43 years found in ‘heart of Syria’

JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said Sunday that the body of a soldier missing for 43 years had been found in the “heart of Syria” and repatriated in a special operation with the Mossad intelligence agency.
“In a special operation led by the IDF (military) and Mossad, the body of Sgt. First Class Tzvika Feldman was found in the heart of Syria and brought back to Israel,” the army said in a statement.
Feldman went missing along with two other soldiers in the 1982 battle of Sultan Yacoub that pitted Israeli and Syrian forces against each other in the Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon, near the border with Syria.
In a separate statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the efforts to locate Feldman’s body, noting that the search for him and his comrades — Zachariah Baumel and Yehuda Katz — had been ongoing for decades.
“Approximately six years ago, we returned for a Jewish burial, Sgt. First Class Zechariah Baumel; today we have returned Tzvika, of blessed memory. We will not cease our efforts to return Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, who is also an MIA from the same battle,” Netanyahu’s statement said, adding that the prime minister had personally notified Feldman’s parents.
The army statement said that Feldman’s body had been identified by the Genomic Identification Center for Fallen Soldiers of the Military Rabbinate but gave little details of how his remains were located deep inside Syria.
“The return of Sgt. Feldman was made possible through a complex and covert operation, enabled by precise intelligence and the use of operational capabilities that demonstrated ingenuity and courage,” the statement said.
“This concludes an extensive intelligence and operational effort that spanned more than four decades, involving close cooperation between the POW/MIA Coordinators in the Prime Minister’s Office, intelligence and operational units within the Mossad and IDF Intelligence Directorate, along with the Shin Bet and the IDF Human Resources Directorate,” the army said.