Queen Rania of Jordan has lashed out strongly at Israel and the West in an interview with the American news channel ‘CNN’. “After October 7 (when members of the terrorist organization Hamas crossed the border into Israel and caused a massacre at a music festival and in a number of settlements, ed.) the world immediately rallied behind Israel and its right to defend itself. But the world remains silent when it comes to what is happening in Gaza,” she said.
According to Queen Rania – who herself is of Palestinian descent – the Middle East and Jordan are shocked by the West’s reaction. Israel has been bombing Hamas targets in Gaza continuously for several weeks, causing numerous civilian casualties. “I want to remind the world that Palestinian mothers love their children as much as any other mother in the world,” the queen said, sounding very frustrated.
She speaks of a “blatant double standard”. “Does this mean that shooting an entire family (like Hamas did in Israel, ed.) is wrong, but that it is no problem to bomb families to death (as Israel does in Gaza, ed.)? There is so much suffering in Gaza and the world is not even asking for a ceasefire. The Arab world sees that not just as tolerating what Israel is doing, but as complicity.”
Shocked
She emphasizes that she is shocked by the Hamas attack of October 7. “We condemn the killing of any civilians, Palestinian or Israeli. That is the position of Jordan and of Islam.”
Every country also has the right to defend itself, the queen says, but not through collective punishment or war crimes. “In recent weeks we have seen ruthless bombing of Gaza. Entire families have been exterminated and hospitals and neighborhoods razed to the ground. How is this self-defense? Why is it self-defense when Israel commits atrocities and why is it called terrorism when the Palestinians do it? That is a double standard.”
Occupier
According to her, this conflict is not about equals. “One is the occupier, the other the occupied. One has an army, one of the most powerful in the world, the other does not. That is a false symmetry.”
She further believes that there is a “hyperfixation” on Hamas, even though the conflict has been going on for 75 years. “This is a problem that existed before Hamas existed and will continue to exist when Hamas is gone,” she says.
According to Queen Rania, no military solution is possible. “Wars are never won. There are only losses on each side. Even if Israel kills Hamas down to its last member, what then? Have they not left behind terrible memories that will give rise to a new generation of resistance, even more fierce and violent? There is only a political solution to this, which must be found at the negotiating table. There must be a free and independent Palestinian state, coexisting in peace and security with the State of Israel. That is the only way forward.”
Queen Rania of Jordan is known for her commitment and her work for charities. Fifteen years ago, she also launched an initiative to tackle stereotypes about Muslims and the Middle East.
“Pain, sadness, constant fear of dying…” Children in Gaza go through this hell (+)
Now that the ground offensive in Gaza is not taking place: what military strategy is Israel using? (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.