Jordan’s King Abdullah II has rejected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s proposal for neighboring Arab countries to take in Palestinian refugees fleeing the Gaza Strip amid the anticipation of an Israeli ground offensive. King Abdullah’s comments came during a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday after a meeting with Chancellor Scholz.
The Arab ruler emphasized Jordan and Egypt would not accept any refugees, stating it is a “red line” for both countries. Following a violent attack by Hamas on Israel, the Israeli government has urged civilians to evacuate the northern part of Gaza, citing the possibility of a ground offensive.
King Abdullah II of Jordan declares that Palestinian refugees is his "red line"
"There will be NO refugees in Jordan and there will be NO refugees in Egypt." pic.twitter.com/m02bzjlSSP
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 17, 2023
Chancellor Scholz plans to express solidarity with Israel during his visit to the country on Tuesday. He will then travel to Egypt, where he is scheduled to meet with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday.
At the press conference with King Abdullah, Chancellor Scholz criticized the use of civilians as human shields by Hamas, and emphasized that the Palestinian population was also a victim of the group. He further warned Hezbollah and Iran against intervening in the conflict, stressing the need to prevent further escalation.