( dpa )- Jordan's Queen Rania on Monday described the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip as "a bad and painful" situation and appealed to the world community to move to ensure an end to the suffering of Palestinian civilians.
"We appeal to the world community to consider international law and human rights codes as the referee in such circumstances, and to prevent collective punishment and the practices which affect innocent people with no political attitudes," the queen said.
She made the remarks to state-run Jordan television during a visit to about 20 patients from the Gaza Strip who currently receive medical treatment at King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman at the behest of King Abdullah II.
The queen said that she sympathized with "the children and their mothers in the Gaza Strip who are being deprived of the basic elements of life as a result of the siege and the cut-off of power".
"We have concerns that the humanitarian situation may deteriorate there and become worse," she said.
Queen Rania issued an appeal to the people in Jordan and other Arab countries "to translate their sadness into tangible work by extending relief aid" to impoverished Gazans .