AMMAN, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday urged intensified efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and prevent further escalation in the region.
The minister made the remarks during phone calls with his counterparts in various countries on Tuesday, during which they looked into the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and de-escalation in the region.
Safadi discussed with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the severe deterioration in the region due to Israel's continued "aggression," and the repercussions of the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.
During the phone call, Safadi and the Qatari foreign minister affirmed that stopping the Israeli offensive is the first step towards defusing the tension and escalation that could push the entire region into more conflict and wars.
In a phone conversation with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Safadi mentioned regional efforts to stop the dangerous escalation, achieve an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and deliver sufficient and immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
When speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the two ministers stressed the need of de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East.
Safadi also spoke with Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, during which they discussed the dangerous escalation in the region, and the necessity of achieving an immediate ceasefire and ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. ■
