Jordan’s King Abdullah Stresses Importance of Preserving Iraq’s Unity

King Abdullah meets with the Iraqi parliament speaker in Amman. (AFP)
King Abdullah meets with the Iraqi parliament speaker in Amman. (AFP)
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Jordan’s King Abdullah Stresses Importance of Preserving Iraq’s Unity

King Abdullah meets with the Iraqi parliament speaker in Amman. (AFP)
King Abdullah meets with the Iraqi parliament speaker in Amman. (AFP)

Jordanian King Abdullah II reiterated the kingdom’s steadfast support for Iraq and its people, security and stability.

King Abdullah on Monday received Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi at the Basman Palace in Amman.

They discussed means of enhancing the deep-rooted ties between the two countries on all levels.

The meeting covered the outcomes of the recent Jordanian-Iraqi-Egyptian summit held in Baghdad and means of translating them on the ground.

It further discussed the latest regional developments, especially the Iraqi government’s efforts in countering terrorism.

The speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Abdel Moneim Al-Awdat and his Iraqi counterpart said Monday that Jordan and Iraq need to build on the outcomes of the tripartite summit to further cement cooperation towards achieving strategic integration among the three brotherly countries.

King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met in Baghdad in June for a summit that focused on boosting security and economic ties between their countries.

Awdat said Jordan supports efforts to bolster Iraq’s stability, adding that the summit sets a new phase in joint cooperation to guarantee the security and stability of their countries and draw a road map for joint investment projects that meet the aspirations of their people.



White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”