Jordan, UK Parliamentary Leaders Reaffirm Strategic Ties, Call For Gaza Ceasefire

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

London, July 2 (Petra) – Speaker of the Lower House of Representatives Ahmad Safadi held separate meetings in London with Speaker of the UK House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker of the House of Lords John McFall, reaffirming the deep-rooted Jordanian-British relations and underscoring the need to strengthen cooperation across all fields. The leaders also stressed the urgency of ending the war on Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid, and establishing a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Safadi's visit to the United Kingdom, accompanied by Jordan's Ambassador to the UK Manar Dabbas and a parliamentary delegation, included MPs Mustafa Amawi, Khamees Atieh, Dina Al-Bashir, Talal Nsour, and Samer Al-Azaydeh, along with senior parliamentary staff.
Safadi highlighted the long-standing ties between the Jordanian and British royal families, which form a foundation for stable bilateral relations. He emphasized Jordan's political stability under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the national reform agenda aimed at broadening public participation, particularly among youth and women, through the development of programmatic political parties.
He noted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and called for building on the growing momentum in legislative cooperation witnessed over the past two years through reciprocal visits and exchanges.
The Speaker reiterated Jordan's firm position on the Palestinian issue as the region's central cause, stating that stability cannot be achieved without a just and comprehensive solution based on the two-state formula. He warned that the policies of Israel's far-right government threaten to push the region into chaos.
He also stressed Jordan's historical Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, vowing to continue defending their status and identity in the face of Israeli violations, especially in the West Bank.
Safadi raised concerns over the strain caused by the Syrian refugee crisis and cross-border security threats, including drug and arms smuggling, while affirming Jordan's commitment to Syria's stability and territorial integrity.
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle praised the enduring friendship between the two kingdoms and underscored the importance of translating these ties into broader governmental and parliamentary cooperation in economic, health, and educational fields.
Hoyle reiterated the UK's commitment to the two-state solution and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the need for international attention on the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
At an official reception hosted by Hoyle in Westminster Palace in honor of Safadi and his delegation, attended by members of the British Parliament, House of Lords, diplomats, and government officials, the Speaker welcomed the Jordanian delegation and praised the visit as a valuable opportunity to deepen parliamentary ties, especially amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Hoyle commended King Abdullah's role in promoting regional stability and said the UK fully supports Jordan's political modernization, especially efforts to empower political parties in parliament.
In response, Safadi expressed gratitude for the warm reception, highlighting the historic friendship and noble humanitarian positions that have united the two countries through challenging times. He called for greater British engagement in pushing for a comprehensive peace in the region and reiterated Jordan's longstanding call to end war and uphold human dignity.
"We must say loudly: enough war, enough death, enough destruction of children's dreams and human dignity," Safadi said, adding that both nations can serve as voices of reason and messengers of hope in a world that urgently needs to put humanity first.
Lord Speaker John McFall echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the challenges facing Jordan and commending King Abdullah's leadership. He emphasized the crucial role of parliamentary diplomacy in preparing the ground for deeper cooperation and reiterated the UK's support for a Gaza ceasefire and a two-state solution as the only viable path to regional peace.

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