During his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday, King Abdullah II reaffirmed Jordan's commitment to safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under its Hashemite custodianship.

Held at the Apostolic Palace, the meeting saw King Abdullah stress the importance of halting escalating settler attacks in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the West Bank, warning against continued Israeli Occupation violations of Jerusalem's sanctities.

Also Read: King Abdullah II meets Italian President to discuss Gaza situation

In the presence of His Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King's Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs and Personal Envoy, King Abdullah expressed Jordan's dedication to preserving Christian religious sites, particularly the Baptism site on the eastern bank of the Jordan River.

Discussions included the dire situation in Gaza, with the King emphasizing the urgent need to halt the humanitarian crisis, secure a lasting ceasefire, and ensure sufficient and timely delivery of relief aid.

King Abdullah reiterated the importance of international support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to fulfill its humanitarian mandate.

He underscored the necessity of a political solution for a just and comprehensive peace, advocating for a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

Also Read: King warns of consequences of 'Israeli' attack on Rafah in meeting with Italian Prime Minister

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