Jordan’s King Visits White House as Gaza Ceasefire Hopes Rise, Then Fade

WASHINGTON — Jordan’s King Abdullah II told President Joe Biden on Monday that a just-launched Israeli offensive in Rafah threatens to cause a “new massacre” in Gaza and could even cause “a regional spillover of the conflict.”

The warning from the longtime U.S. ally came during a private meeting with the president after the two men met for lunch at the White House.

The king reportedly also stressed the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at achieving an immediate and “sustainable” ceasefire in Gaza.

The conversation transpired amid a flurry of diplomatic activity related to the conflict, which began with Hamas launching a coordinated attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that left 1,200 people dead and another 252 in captivity, according to the Israeli government.

Since Israel launched its counteroffensive in response, more than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed, while another 77,000 have been wounded, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

On Monday, just minutes before the king’s motorcade whisked him through the northwest gate and onto the White House grounds, Hamas announced it would accept a cease fire deal.

By the time the two finished lunch, however, Israel said what Hamas agreed to was not the deal that had been placed on the table, and ordered an evacuation of some 100,000 Palestinians from eastern neighborhoods of Rafah, signaling an invasion was imminent.

The rapid-fire succession of events left White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre and National Communications advisor John Kirby scrambling during an afternoon press briefing that coincided with the king’s departure.

Biden thanked Abdullah for Jordan’s leadership role in efforts to provide aid to Gaza. He also appreciated Jordan’s efforts to work to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Later, a statement from the Jordanian royal court filled in some of the details on what was said behind closed doors.

According to the readout, Abdullah stressed the need to protect civilians in Gaza, reiterating Jordan’s rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and attempts to separate them.

In this context, the release said, the king reaffirmed his belief that an independent, sovereign Palestinian state should be established with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also reportedly stressed what he called “the important role” of the United States in pushing for a political horizon “to achieve just and comprehensive peace,” and called for the continued international support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees so it can carry out its relief efforts.

Earlier this year, allegations surfaced that at least a dozen UNRWA employees had assisted Hamas in carrying out the Oct. 7 attacks.

In light of those allegations, Reps. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., are currently preparing legislation on Capitol Hill that would demand the State Department take every step it can to ensure U.S. tax dollars that went to the relief agency are returned.

During the non-Gaza portion of their conservation, Biden affirmed the United States’ “steadfast support” for Jordan and the Jordanian people, and congratulated the king on the occasion of the 25 anniversary of his assumption of his constitutional powers.

Abdullah’s schedule in Washington on Monday also included meetings with Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group.

Meanwhile, during a phone call on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden pressed him not to go ahead with a large-scale military offensive in Rafah, and specifically, not to undertake a massive ground offensive in the city without a plan to protect civilians.

Israel’s War Cabinet ultimately decided to continue the Rafah operation, reiterating the prime minister’s contention that the cease fire proposal from Hamas was “far from meeting Israel’s core demands.”

Nevertheless, Netanyahu said, he plans to send negotiators to Egypt to continue to work on a deal.

On Tuesday morning Israeli tanks entered Rafah and took control of a border crossing into the city. An Israeli military official told reporters the scope of the operation would be limited and aimed solely at destroying Hamas targets.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue