AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah has cautioned that international troops may hesitate to take part in enforcing peace in Gaza under the Trump administration’s proposed ceasefire plan, warning that such a mission could be too risky and politically sensitive.
In an interview with the BBC, the Jordanian monarch questioned the potential mandate of any foreign forces deployed in Gaza. “We hope it will be peacekeeping, because if it’s peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that,” he remarked.
Explaining the difference, King Abdullah said peacekeeping involves supporting local police forces and Palestinian authorities — a task Jordan and Egypt are ready to assist with through training — but that would take time. “If we’re running around Gaza on patrol with weapons, that’s not a situation any country would like to get involved in,” he added.
His comments highlight growing concerns among world powers about being drawn into renewed hostilities involving Hamas, Israel, or other Palestinian groups. The UN defines peace enforcement as the use of military force to maintain or restore peace without full consent of the warring parties, while peacekeeping operates with consent and limits the use of force to self-defence.
Under President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Arab and international partners would deploy stabilization forces to train and support vetted Palestinian police units in Gaza, working in coordination with Jordan and Egypt. The proposal also calls for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of the territory — a condition that remains unmet as Hamas fighters continue to operate across parts of Gaza, prompting Israeli airstrikes.
King Abdullah made it clear that Jordan would not send troops, citing his country’s deep political and social ties to the Palestinian issue. Over half of Jordan’s population is of Palestinian origin, and the kingdom hosts more than 2.3 million registered refugees — the largest such population in the region.
When asked if he trusted Hamas to surrender political authority, the King said, “I don’t know them personally, but Qatar and Egypt — who work very closely with them — are optimistic they will abide by their commitments.”
He stressed the urgency of finding a lasting solution for Palestinians and Israelis, warning, “If we don’t solve this problem and build a future for both peoples, we are doomed.”
Jordan has been active in humanitarian efforts throughout the Gaza crisis, coordinating the evacuation of wounded civilians and delivering aid. The King said he personally oversaw several aid drops over Gaza. “Looking over the back ramp was just shocking,” he recalled. “The devastation I saw was unbelievable. How we, as an international community, are allowing this to happen is mind-boggling.”
At King Abdullah’s request, the US supported Jordan’s plan to evacuate 2,000 critically ill Palestinian children from Gaza. Since then, 253 children have been flown to Jordan for treatment, with thousands more evacuated to Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar. The World Health Organization reports that over 15,000 Gazans, including 3,000 children, still await evacuation.
According to WHO, the security clearance process required for patients and their families to leave Gaza remains “excruciatingly slow.” Israel’s coordination agency, COGAT, maintains that it prioritizes humanitarian aid and medical evacuations while stressing the need for thorough security checks for anyone crossing Israeli territory.
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