Queen Rania: Failing to stop Gaza war for two years is a “nightmare” for parents

In an interview with BBC Panorama, Queen Rania of Jordan condemned the international community for what she described as a failure to end the war in Gaza, which has continued for two years.

"You know what it's like to be a parent over the last two years? To watch your children suffering, starving, shaking in terror, and to be powerless to do anything about it, and to know that the whole world is watching and not to do anything about it. That nightmare, it's the nightmare of any parent, but that nightmare has been the daily reality for Palestinians for the last two years," she said.

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Queen Rania also praised US President Trump for his efforts in brokering the recent ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Hamas, saying he had effectively leveraged the United States’ influence to pressure ‘Israel’.

"To his credit, Trump was the first president in a long time to actually apply pressure on Israel. Beforehand, when they crossed lines, the US president would just maybe just say a few words of rebuke or they just get a slap on the wrist. President Trump actually got [Israeli PM Benjamin] Netanyahu to actually agree to a ceasefire. And I hope that he continues to be engaged in this process."

According to the health ministry in Gaza, more than 68,000 people have been killed since ‘Israel’ launched its invasion after Oct. 7, 2023. 

The International Criminal Court has since issued arrest warrants for alleged war crimes against Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, who was later confirmed killed in an airstrike.

The Trump-brokered ceasefire led to the release of 20 'Israeli' captives and the exchange of 250 Palestinian political prisoners, along with about 1,700 Gaza detainees held without charge.

When asked whether she believed lasting peace was possible, Queen Rania said that hope, though difficult, was not naive but necessary.

"I truly believe that Palestinians and Israelis can exist side by side," she said. "In the current atmosphere, there's too much animosity, too much anger and grief and hatred and cynicism between the two peoples to actually forge a peace on their own. I'm not being naive here. But I think with the push of the international community, that is the only way.

"So many times during the past two years, hope had felt elusive. Choosing hope was not easy… it's hard, it's heavy. But it's the only path that doesn't deny Palestinians or betray their struggle or our humanity."