Queen Rania's Brave Words Expose the Hypocrisy: Gaza's Death Toll Ignites International Outrage

Queen Rania of Jordan has criticized Western leaders for their failure to condemn the loss of civilian lives caused by Israeli attacks in Gaza. She believes that this lack of action could negatively impact relations between the United States and Arab leaders. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Rania expressed her shock and disappointment at the global response to the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. She highlighted the evident double standard that has been observed in recent weeks.

"After the events of October 7, the world promptly and unequivocally expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense and condemned the attack. However, in recent weeks, there has been a notable absence of international response," she stated in an interview with CNN.

Israel implemented a "complete siege" on Gaza in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the coastal enclave. The attacks resulted in the loss of more than 1,400 lives and the kidnapping of over 200 individuals, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces. The siege has since led to relentless airstrikes on densely-populated areas of Gaza and a blockade on essential resources, such as food and water, affecting the entire population living in the isolated territory.

"This marks a unprecedented moment in contemporary history, where immense human suffering persists without any international call for a cessation of hostilities," Queen Rania remarked. "The overwhelming silence is profound and, to numerous individuals in our region, it implicates the Western world in their plight."

"Does this imply that it is morally reprehensible to ruthlessly murder an entire family at gunpoint, but deemed acceptable to bombard them until their demise? The hypocrisy displayed here is glaring," she expressed. "It is truly appalling within the Arab world."

According to recent data provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is under the control of Hamas, the number of casualties resulting from Israeli strikes exceeds 5,000, with over 2,000 children among the victims. Additionally, 35 UN workers have lost their lives.

Israel maintains that its airstrikes specifically target Hamas terrorists and holds the group responsible for using civilian infrastructure as a shield.

The United Nations and multiple aid organizations are urgently appealing for a ceasefire and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the increasingly desperate population. In the meantime, doctors operating in the isolated enclave are warning that power shortages pose a life-threatening risk to their most vulnerable patients, including critically injured individuals and premature infants who require incubators.

"As a mother, we have witnessed Palestinian mothers who are compelled to write their children's names on their hands - due to the substantial likelihood of them being bombed to death, leading to their bodies becoming corpses," Rania expressed. "I simply want to emphasize that Palestinian mothers love their children just as deeply as any other mother worldwide."

Growing frustration with the West

The perceived reluctance of the US to take action against Israel's blockade has left Arab leaders expressing their discontent. Last week, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority decided to withdraw from a scheduled summit in Jordan with US President Joe Biden.

Washington, a strong supporter of Israel, has stood firm in its endorsement of the Israeli government's response to Gaza, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has rejected pleas for a cessation of hostilities.

"Our focus is not on initiating a ceasefire at this moment," affirmed John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council, during an interview with CNN on Monday.

In the UN Security Council on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and suggested considering temporary humanitarian pauses, without directly mentioning a ceasefire.

Last week, the US vetoed a Security Council proposal for a humanitarian pause in the bloodshed, citing the draft resolution's omission of Israel's right to self-defense as the reason. The United Kingdom also declined to support the resolution. A previous Russian ceasefire also proved unsuccessful.

Wounded Palestinians sit in al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, after arriving from al-Ahli hospital following an explosion there, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

Abed Khaled/AP

Names written on children's bodies speak to the fears of Gazan parents amid the Israel-Hamas war

The United Nations, in a joint statement by nine independent experts, accused Israel of committing "crimes against humanity" in its ongoing campaign. The experts condemned the "unspeakably cruel" Gaza blockade and denounced the "forcible population transfers," stating that these actions are in violation of international and criminal law.

In addition, former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin cautioned that the current crisis should serve as a wake-up call for Israelis and Palestinians alike. He emphasized the need for a change in leadership on both sides.

Baskin, an Israeli citizen, played a crucial role in securing the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held captive and imprisoned by Hamas from 2006 to 2011. Known as the author of "The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas," Baskin currently maintains contact with both Israeli and Hamas leadership in an unofficial capacity.

In a separate interview with Amanpour on Tuesday, he expressed that the current dire situation should come as no surprise. Baskin emphasized that it is essential for Israel to recognize that sustaining an occupation of another people for 56 years cannot lead to lasting peace. He further stated that confining two million individuals within an open-air prison inevitably leads to unrest and instability.

"And for the Palestinians, this should serve as a wake-up call. Supporting radical fanatic leaders and denying equal rights to the other inhabitants of their land will undoubtedly lead to dire consequences," he added, addressing the situation from Jerusalem.

"These events mark the most devastating occurrence for Israel and Palestine since 1948."

A growing crisis and fears of displacement

Concerns are escalating regarding the potential spread of the conflict to neighboring nations in the Middle East. In light of an expected ground operation, Israel is urging residents of the northern section of Gaza to move south.

The Norwegian Refugee Council stated that compelling civilians in Gaza to move constitutes the war crime of forcible transfer. Additionally, leaders from Jordan and Egypt have expressed apprehension that millions of Palestinians may be displaced from Gaza and the occupied West Bank to Egypt and Jordan, potentially leading to regional warfare.

Jordans King Abdullah issued a strong warning last week, stating that the displacement of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt would cross a "red line." He emphasized that both Jordan and Egypt would not accept any refugees from Gaza. The King dismissed suggestions of these two countries accommodating fleeing Gazans as a ploy "by the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground." This hints at the possibility of refugees being unable to return to their original homes.

Armed settlers attacked an apartment building on October 11, killing four people.

CNN

Gaza conflict spills over into the West Bank, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties following settler attacks and clashes.

When questioned about her husband's stance, Queen Rania emphasized that the people of Gaza are presented with "two alternatives."

"Essentially, they are forced to choose between expulsion or extermination, between ethnic cleansing and genocide. No people should ever have to face such a dilemma. The people of Palestine, including those in Gaza, should not be compelled to undergo displacement once again," she stated.

Over half of the population in Gaza consists of refugees whose forefathers were forced to flee or were expelled from their residences in present-day Israel by armed Jewish factions during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which Palestinians refer to as the Nakba or "the catastrophe." Israel has consistently denied them the right to return to their homes, leading many to endure a life of poverty.

The queen further emphasized that the conflict in the Middle East did not originate on October 7 with Hamas' attack on Israel. She drew attention to Israel's history of occupation and the displacement of Palestinians.

"While most networks are portraying the situation as Israel at war, it is important to acknowledge that for numerous Palestinians living on the opposite side of the separation wall, behind the barbed wire, war has been a continuous reality," she remarked.

This is a 75-year-old narrative depicting the immense loss and forced migration experienced by the Palestinian population. It narrates the oppressive practices of an apartheid regime that seizes territories, demolishes homes, appropriates land, conducts military incursions, and carries out nocturnal raids.

Jordanians gather during a pro-Palestine protest in Amman, on October 20, to express solidarity with civilians in Gaza.

Alaa Al Sukhni/Reuters

Pro-Palestine demonstrators chant slogans near the Israeli Embassy in Amman, on Friday.

Tensions between Palestinians and Israelis in the occupied West Bank were already high even before the war with Hamas. In response to a wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis last year, Israel carried out frequent incursions and raids targeting alleged militant strongholds in the occupied West Bank. This escalated violence led to a significant number of Palestinian and Israeli casualties, reaching a level not witnessed in the past ten years.

After Israel gained control of the West Bank from Jordan in 1967 during the Six Day War, significant portions of the territory, which Palestinians envision as part of their future state, have been occupied by Israeli civilians. These settlements, typically accompanied by military security, are widely viewed as illegal by the international community.

In recent days, protesters across the Arab world have taken to the streets in large numbers to express their solidarity with Palestinians who are currently facing an Israeli siege and bombardment. On Friday, approximately 6,000 demonstrators gathered in Amman to show their support for Palestinians.

According to Rania, a two-state solution is the sole means of achieving peace in the region, as it aims to establish a "free, sovereign, and independent" Palestine. Rania shared this perspective with CNN.

Reporting was contributed by CNN's Alaa Elassar, DJ Judd, James Frater, Tim Lister, Lauren Kent, and Amy Cassidy.