CAIRO, Nov 6, (Agencies): Queen Rania of Jordan has called for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that those opposed to a truce are essentially endorsing and justifying the deaths of thousands of civilians. In response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's rejection of a ceasefire, Queen Rania expressed the need for a collective call for a ceasefire, despite arguments that it might benefit Hamas. She also highlighted the root causes of the conflict, including illegal occupation, human rights abuses, illegal settlements, and disregard for UN resolutions and international law.

She decried the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and questioned the world's response to the suffering of Palestinians, particularly the high number of civilian casualties, including children. Queen Rania also addressed Israel's claims of civilians being used as human shields, stressing the responsibility to avoid civilian deaths under international law.

Regarding Israel's evacuation orders, Queen Rania raised concerns about their effectiveness and suggested that they might be more about legitimizing Israel's actions in the eyes of the international community than protecting Gaza civilians.

She also condemned rising bigotry in the United States against both Jewish and Muslim people, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence and framing the issue as a matter of politics rather than religion.