As a Jordanian aid convoy arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday, His Majesty King Abdullah issued instructions for setting up field hospitals in the besieged enclave to treat hundreds of people wounded by an ongoing Israeli onslaught.
The King also urged Jordanian diplomats gathered in Amman to expose the repercussions of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.
Meanwhile, people around the Kingdom continued for the third day their rallies staged in condemnation of the assault and in support of the Palestinian people.
In his remarks at the fourth annual Jordanian Ambassadors' Forum, the King said diplomats should work for crystallising an international stand that commits Israel to stop the aggression on Gaza immediately.
The envoys were requested to explain to the governments of the countries where they are stationed the impact of the Israeli military action on the efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace in the region.
His Majesty said the impact of the aggression goes beyond Gaza to threaten peace on the basis of the two-state formula, which, the King reiterated, is the only way to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
King Abdullah underlined Jordan's contacts with Arab and international parties to bring an end to the onslaught and the suffering of the Palestinians as soon as possible, referring to the mounting sentiments of anger and resentment for the “scenes of killings and destruction we see in the Gaza Strip”.
Also on Monday, the King telephoned US President George W. Bush and discussed the current developments in the Gaza Strip. During the conversation, His Majesty urged an effective international effort to stop the Israeli attacks on Gaza and put an end to the suffering of Palestinians.
A 16-truck relief aid convoy sent by Jordan arrived in Gaza, laden with food and medical supplies, in addition to blood units donated by citizens as part of a nationwide support campaign.
In Gaza, head of Jordan's Representation Office to the Palestinian Authority, Yahya Qaralleh, said that the trucks carrying medical aid passed into the strip through Karm Abu Salem crossing in south Gaza, while the vehicle laden with 1,000 blood units entered through Beit Hanoun in the north.
In Amman, HRH Prince Rashid, who chairs the board of trustees at the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, announced that arrangements were under way to send more assistance on a weekly basis, in implementation of the King's directives.
He was quoted as saying that the organisation was continuing with its campaign to raise cash and in-kind donations for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
King Abdullah has directed the Jordan Armed Forces to set up field hospitals in Gaza to assist in treating the hundreds of people wounded in the attacks.