Top Jordanian, US diplomats discuss situation in Gaza

AMMAN, Jordan

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his American counterpart Antony Blinken discussed over on Thursday the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, Blinken voiced concern for the Jordanian medical staff injured in Gaza, and reiterated that civilians and medical personnel must be protected.

Seven staffers of a Jordanian field hospital in the Gaza Strip were injured in Israeli bombardment on Wednesday, according to officials.

Blinken also expressed gratefulness for Jordan’s partnership in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.

According to the State Department, Blinken also underscored the US commitment of "achieving sustained peace through the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.”

Israel's air and ground attacks on Gaza since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has killed over 11,500 Palestinians, more than half of them being women and children. The official Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200.

Thousands of buildings have been flattened in the territory of 2.3 million people.

The enclave is again under a communications blackout due to a lack of fuel for generators.

Gaza is receiving only 10% of its needed food supplies daily, and dehydration and malnutrition are growing, according to the World Food Program.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar