King Abdullah of Jordan Stresses Peacekeeping Over Enforcement in Gaza

Thu Oct 30 2025 05:47:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In an exclusive interview, King Abdullah warns international forces against involvement in a Gaza peace enforcement initiative while advocating for training Palestinian police forces as part of a peacekeeping strategy.

King Abdullah of Jordan has expressed concerns about international troops enforcing peace in Gaza, suggesting that peacekeeping should be the goal instead. He emphasized Jordan and Egypt's willingness to train Palestinian security forces under a US-led peace plan. Abdullah’s remarks highlight complexities regarding foreign involvement in Gaza amid ongoing tensions and past conflicts. Additionally, Queen Rania speaks on the dire humanitarian situation, criticizing the international community's inaction over the years.

Countries would reject being asked to enforce peace in Gaza if deployed under the Trump ceasefire plan, King Abdullah of Jordan has told the BBC.

Under US President Trump's 20-point peace plan, Arab states and international partners are to commit stabilisation forces that will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. Hamas is to disarm and give up political control of the territory.

What is the mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? And we hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it's peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that, said King Abdullah.

In an exclusive interview for BBC Panorama, he said that Jordan and Egypt were willing to train Palestinian security forces in large numbers, but noted that maintaining peace would be critical and would take time.

The King's comments reflect broader concerns regarding potential international involvement in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Jordanian forces' involvement in Gaza is complicated by the country's political ties and the fact that over half of its population is of Palestinian descent.

Queen Rania of Jordan further criticized the international community for failing to address the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians, lamenting the persistent violence and its effects on innocent children.

She highlighted ongoing efforts for peace and the importance of international support in achieving stability and resolving the humanitarian issues in the region.