TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi asked G20 countries to increase support for Palestine in a ministerial-level G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

During less than 30 hours of the visit, Retno brought up the issue of Israel’s attack in Gaza. “This issue is important to discuss in G20, considering all permanent members of the Security Council are also members of G20,” she said in a press statement received on Thursday.

Nineteen members of G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US. Two regional organizations, the EU and the African Union are also members of the G20.

G20 members represent about 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 percent of global trade, and around two-thirds of the global population.

In front of G20 state representatives, Minister Retno said that Israel’s atrocities in Gaza were “an atrocity that goes beyond any plausible justification”.

The attack on Gaza by Israel has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians and wounded 69,000 more since Oct. 7. “Facing genocide, civilians in Gaza are trapped in a living hell. They have no escape, no access to essential needs; stripped of their hopes for the future. This is not only a humanitarian disaster but also a geopolitical nightmare,” said Minister Retno Marsudi.

She then presented three collective actions to take by the G20 members. First, she pushed for an immediate and permanent ceasefire at any cost to stop the bloodshed and ease humanitarian suffering.

Second, she asked countries to avoid double standards. According to her, the international community must not treat Palestine differently from other cases and other issues.

“We must not stand idly as Israel continues to destroy homes, hospitals, schools, and refugee camps,” she said.

She also appealed to all G20 members to increase their support for Palestine, including UNRWA instead of cutting it. The UN agency is currently struggling to help Palestinians in Gaza as many countries halt their funding after Israel accused 12 out of 13,000 UNRWA staff in Gaza involved in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Third, lower global tensions and prevent further escalation. She said that technology, such as cyber weapons, drones, and AI, poses new threats to global security.

NABIILAH AZZAHRA

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