Being 'pro-Palestine' does not equal being ‘antisemitic’, says Jordan's Queen Rania

Jordan's Queen Rania, the wife of King Abdullah, has called for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza, saying that advocating for the protection of Palestinian lives is not "antisemitism" or "pro-terrorism".

Israel's bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 10,000 Palestinians, the vast majority civilians, with more than a million forced from their homes.

Jordan and other Arab countries have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further deaths, while Israel has tried to besmirch those opposed to its military campaign as supporters of Hamas.

"Let me be unequivocally clear. Being pro-Palestinian does not equate to being antisemitic, nor does it signify support for Hamas or terrorism," Queen Rania told CNN's Becky Anderson during an interview on Sunday.

"In recent years, we've witnessed the weaponisation of accusations of antisemitism to stifle any critique of Israel," she added. "I want to unequivocally condemn both antisemitism and Islamophobia, but I also want to remind everyone that Israel does not represent the entire global Jewish community. Israel is a sovereign state and bears sole responsibility for its actions."

Claims that a ceasefire would benefit Hamas attacks would be an "endorsement and justification" for civilian casualties.

"I understand that some argue against a ceasefire, fearing it might benefit Hamas. However, in making that argument, they are essentially dismissing and, in fact, condoning the deaths of thousands of civilians, which is morally reprehensible," she stressed.

Queen Rania also expressed scepticism about Israel's assertion that it was trying to protect civilians and with the scenes of human suffering apparent this claim was "an affront to one's intelligence".

"When 1.1 million people are told to evacuate their homes under the threat of death, that cannot be considered the protection of civilians; it's forced displacement," she stated. She also suggested that Israel's evacuation orders were not for the betterment of Gaza but rather an attempt to "legitimise their actions".

Queen Rania had earlier criticised Western leaders for a "glaring double standard" in failing to condemn Israel's mass killing of Palestinian civilians during its bombardment of Gaza.

Born to Palestinian parents in Kuwait, Queen Rania slammed Western nations for opposing a ceasefire and argued that their silence implied complicity in attacks on schools, hospitals, churches, and mosques.

The Israeli siege on Gaza, coupled with a relentless bombing campaign, has seen immense human suffering and doctors short of even the most basic medical supplies.