Indonesia-Netherlands Meet; Foreign Ministers Discuss Situation in Gaza

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Netherlands' Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot met with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during her visit to Indonesia on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. The meeting discussed several issues, including the unfolding humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"Even though any peace negotiations are a long way off, the two-state solution is the only realistic path to peace and security for the Israelis and Palestinians," Bruin Slot said.

Minister Bruins Slot stressed the need for a humanitarian pause and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor. A similar position has been called for by the EU in a declaration during a summit in Brussels, Belgium.

"The Netherlands is using all means available to facilitate the entry of food, water, fuel, and medicines to Gaza," she added.

A week ago, Bruins Slot announced the Netherlands' commitment of €10 million for humanitarian aid in Gaza, with €8 million of which will be allotted to UNRWA.

Bruins Slot also reiterated the Netherlands' position during the open dialogue in the UNSC session on the situation in the Middle East on October 24. "Israel has the right to defend itself against the terror of Hamas but must act in accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilian casualties and regional escalation must be prevented," she said. "This requires restraint from Israel when it comes to the use of force."

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed that Indonesia's position is unchanged. Indonesia maintained that the humanitarian issue in Gaza should be the focus of the international community at this time. 

Minister Retno quoted a UN OCHA report on the situation in Gaza that was relayed earlier this week on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the UNSC in New York. The report found that people in Gaza have endured a siege and continuous bombardment for 23 days, killing more than 8,000 people, of which 66 percent are women and children.

"The scale of the horror people are experiencing in Gaza is hard to convey," the minister concluded, citing Lisa Doughten, the Director of the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization of the UN OCHA. "I can not understand that with this kind of humanitarian situation, the UNSC remains idle until now."

Minister Retno Marsudi also affirmed Indonesia's position on the matter of defending the justice and humanity of the People of Palestine.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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