Biden tells Jordanian king that status quo must be preserved at Al-Aqsa

February 13, 2024

The US president also acknowledged ‘the crucial role of Jordan in the holy places for Muslims in Jerusalem.’

By World Israel News Staff

In a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah at the White House on Monday, President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of preserving the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, while highlighting the pivotal role Jordan plays in maintaining the sanctity and stability of this sacred site for Muslims.

Biden acknowledged “the crucial role of Jordan in the holy places for Muslims in Jerusalem,” according to remarks carried by Israel’s Walla news site.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, revered as the third most holy site in Islam following Mecca and Medina, is the holiest site in Judaism as the location of the biblical Temples and is adjacent to the Western Wall.

Since its liberation by the IDF during the 1967 Six Day War, Jordan’s Islamic Waqf has served as its trustees.

The Hamas terror group has demanded that Jews be forbidden to ascent Al-Aqsa as part of a reported hostage deal.

The conversation between Biden and Abdullah was part of broader discussions on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

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Biden expressed his hope for a hostage deal that would entail a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The two also discussed the immediate consequences of potential IDF actions in Rafah. Abdullah has demanded that the IDF refrain from expanding its operations in Rafah.

The Jordanian king joined the aircrew of one of his kingdom’s planes to personally release aid over the Gaza Strip, state media reported Sunday.

Video footage aired on Jordanian TV showed the monarch wearing battle fatigues and protective equipment on a transport plane as pallets of medical supplies were released to parachute down to field hospitals that the kingdom’s military has been running in Gaza since late November. Reuters reported that this is the 11th time the kingdom has carried out a medical air drop.

Amman has also set up two hospitals in the coastal enclave, one in Khan Younis in the southern part, and one in Gaza City in the north. When the Khan Younis facility was first established, 40 truckloads of equipment and 180 doctors and nurses came through Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

Last month, the Jordanians claimed that Israel had shelled its Khan Younis facility during battles against Hamas in the city, causing extensive damage. The IDF swiftly provided aerial images showing the building intact.

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The IDF has allowed the passage of more than 1,000 tons of medical equipment into Gaza since the outbreak of the war on October 7, after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, massacring 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage.