Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a Politico Magazine article published Monday that the king of Jordan “cut us off” regarding a pledge to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children.
Two months ago, King Abdullah II of Jordan pledged to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children from Gaza, but Kennedy said Jordan “took 44, and then they’ve cut us off.”
“I would encourage him to put the welfare of these children first and put the politics aside,” Kennedy said, seemingly referring to the king.
While at the White House earlier this year, Abdullah said he believed that “the president is very happy that we do this thing with 2,000 children as quickly as possible.”
“I believe that the president is looking forward to getting a group of us Arabs here to discuss the overall plan,” he added.
Gaza has faced dire conditions and mass death amid Israel’s strikes amid its war with Hamas that began in October 2023.
Early Monday, Israeli Cabinet members approved a plan to take control of the Gaza Strip for a length of time that was not specified, letting down hope that a ceasefire with Hamas could come soon.
The late Pope Francis’s popemobile is set to serve as a Gaza children’s health clinic in a final wish from the pontiff who died last month, according to Vatican News. The News reported Monday that the conversion of the pontiff’s popemobile was a final request from Francis for Gaza residents.
The Hill has reached out to Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for comment.
