News - Middle East: Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan stated on Sunday that in 2023, it became evident that international laws are privileges for some and not rights for all, emphasizing that celebrating the new year while Gaza endures suffering is impossible.

“It is impossible to celebrate the new year knowing that it will start the same way this year ends; with unfathomable suffering in Gaza,” she said in a Facebook post on her official page, marking the New Year.

“2023 has cast a dark shadow on our collective humanity – we realized that some lives are seemingly expendable; that international laws and principles are privileges for some, not rights for all,” Queen Rania added.

“But amidst this darkness, 2023 has also a bright light on thousands of acts of resilience, faith, heroism, and sacrifice… On people speaking truth to power… On millions posting and protesting on behalf of strangers living many miles away.
I choose to put my faith in this light; I choose to believe in the power of human goodness. Praying that the new year brings peace to us all,” she conculded.

Israel’s brutal military offensive in Gaza has killed a total of 21,822 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded 56,451 others. The war has triggered a global outrage, with protesters across the world rallying to call for a ceasefire.

There are growing anger and despair worldwide towards politicians and countries who vetoed or abstained from voting for a ceasefire at the United Nations.

Rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, also condemned countries opposing a ceasefire in Gaza, warning that this would result in a humanitarian disaster.

Activists have launched a global campaign, named Countdown2Ceasefire, asking people to turn the New Year’s countdown in their countries into a countdown for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.