TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi is reportedly to attend a rally in support of Palestine that will be held at the National Monument, or Monas in Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, Nov. 5.

"Correct, Mrs. Foreign Minister will attend the peaceful rally tomorrow," said the spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, in a short message on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The peaceful rally to support Palestine will be held by the people joined in the Indonesian People Alliance. The rally is scheduled to be held from 6 to 10 a.m. Interfaith figures will deliver speeches at the peaceful rally.

"The Indonesian People's Alliance, which consists of cross-religions, cross-organizations, cross-groups, is invited to take part in the action to defend Palestine," said Chairman of the MUI for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday, as reported by Antara.

Meanwhile, Minister Retno today accompanied President Joko Widodo or Jokowi in sending off the humanitarian relief to Palestine at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airbase, East Jakarta. Indonesia sent 51.5 tons of aid comprising various needs such as food and drugs, women's and children's needs, disability support equipment, hygiene kits, blankets, and other items.

Retno said that Indonesia's diplomatic efforts to raise the Palestinian issue have been exhaustive. The efforts included a meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

MUI chairman of Da'wah and Brotherhood Cholil Nafis said that the rally to defend Palestine was a series of actions that had been carried out before. He said that this action is also a response to similar actions taking place in a number of other countries in the world. Indonesia, he said, also opposes Israeli aggression.

Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, triggered the bloodiest escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in years. Israel responded with military aggression that resulted in thousands of civilians being killed.

Daniel A. Fajri

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