First Deputy Speaker decries Israeli war crimes

AMMAN — First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House Abdulrahim Maayah on Wednesday said that Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip are war crimes as the occupation inflicts various forms of torture, destruction and abuse against a defenceless people.

Maayah made the remarks while heading a Jordanian parliamentary delegation to the 35th emergency conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Baghdad, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The lawmaker added that His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein always warned of the danger of denying Palestinian rights, and the consequences of failing to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

He referred to Jordan's position, which calls to curb the occupation's practices against Palestinians, adding that Israel continues to build settlements, desecrate sacred sites and imprison innocent people.

He called on the Arab parliaments to support Jordan's position expressed by His Majesty since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and take clear stances.

In regard to future action, the MP called upon  international parliaments to expose Israeli practices, mainly collective punishment against Gazans.

He also urged support for Jordan's position in preserving the existing historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites through the Hashemite Custodianship over its sanctities.

Maayah stressed the need to launch campaigns to donate money and blood while using all means to press for the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip.