STORY: Jordan, Luxembourg urge immediate ceasefire in Gaza, regional tensions de-escalation
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:52
LOCATION: Amman
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the meeting and press conference
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYMAN SAFADI, Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XAVIER BETTEL, Luxembourg's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

STORYLINE:

Senior officials of Jordan and Luxembourg on Thursday jointly urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a de-escalation of regional tensions at an early date.

The statements were made during a joint press conference between Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and Luxembourg's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel.

Safadi said that the current top priority in the Middle East is "stopping the Israeli aggression, ending the humanitarian disaster, and halting the catastrophic escalation, for which we hold Israel fully responsible."

The Jordanian minister condemned the killing of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, noting that the assassination would threaten the expansion of regional war and negatively impact international peace and security.

Safadi also condemned Israel's strikes on Lebanon, calling for immediate and concrete action from the international community as well as from the UN Security Council.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYMAN SAFADI, Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Israeli escalation in the region continues, including the assassination yesterday of the head of the Hamas political bureau. Jordan condemned this as an escalatory act and a clear violation of international law and state sovereignty. The incident is likely to lead to further escalation, threatening the expansion of regional conflict. This will negatively affect not only regional security and peace but also international security and peace."

For his part, Bettel said Luxembourg is "committed to stopping the war on Gaza, achieving a ceasefire, and implementing the two-state solution."

He said that Luxembourg will increase its aid and support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XAVIER BETTEL, Luxembourg's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
"We should not forget that people are dying every day and that the political will that we have in both countries to have a ceasefire is the first condition, to have a two-state solution. I know it won't be easy, it won't be for tomorrow. It has to be our priority to continue. But even if I'm not the biggest country in Europe, you can count on our solidarity, on our help, on our support."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Amman.
(XHTV)