Jordan called on the European Union on Thursday to take "practical deterrent steps" against Israel over its continued "aggression" on the Gaza Strip, its violation of the rights of the Palestinian people, and its breaches of international and humanitarian laws.

This came during a phone call made by the Kingdom's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.

The statement said that Safadi stressed "the necessity for the European Union to take practical deterrent steps against Israel's continued aggression on Gaza, its violation of the rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, its violation of the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and its continued violations of international law and international humanitarian law, which is pushing the region to the brink of a regional war."

The Jordanian minister said: "Nothing justifies the continued inability of the international community and its institutions to take strict steps to impose a halt to the war crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, its violations of international law and international humanitarian law, and its endangerment of international peace and security."

He called for "the necessity for the European Union to impose sanctions on extremist racist Israeli officials who promote hate speech and racism, support settler terrorism, violate the sanctity of holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, and breach the historical and legal status quo in Islamic and Christian holy sites."

Al-Safadi condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the extremist racist Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to the same statement.

He considered Ben Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque "a flagrant violation of the historical and legal status quo and a dangerous escalation that requires the imposition of deterrent sanctions on him."

Safadi also pointed out the "necessity of the European Union confronting the continued construction and expansion of settlements in the Palestinian territories in violation of international law, and challenging the bloc's positions that consider the construction of settlements and the confiscation of lands a violation of international law."

He stressed the "need to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza immediately."

Safadi and Borrell stressed their support for the efforts made by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to reach a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.

Talks began in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Thursday afternoon, to reach a prisoner exchange agreement and a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The high-level negotiations, at the request of the leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar, are being held away from the media.

The negotiations are attended by CIA Director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, and Israeli Mossad Chief David Barnea.

While an Israeli delegation is participating in the negotiations, Hamas has refused to participate, and has demanded, along with other factions, that Tel Aviv be bound by what was agreed upon last July, based on a proposal by US President Joe Biden.