Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Release Statement Condemning Israel's Attacks

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said on Sunday, May 16, that many countries are concerned about the escalating tension between Israel and Palestine. Retno said this was revealed after talks with counterparts of other countries including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, Norway, and Vietnam.

According to Retno, this is the important time to use the influence of each country to call for violence to cease and de-escalation and ceasefire to be carried out.

At the higher level, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo also communicated with a number of world leaders to discuss the situation in Palestine. Jokowi, Malaysia Prime Minister, and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam agreed to issue a Joint Statement condemning repeated blatant violations and aggressions carried out by the Israelis targeting civilians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The joint statement was published on Sunday evening, May 16. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published it via Twitter and its official website. The statement called upon the international community to remain resolute in their commitment to safeguarding the “two-state solution” towards achieving an independent State of Palestine.

Israel's aggression in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Al-Quds Al-Shareef or Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, raised concerns. It was predicted that more than 150 people were killed, including women and children, and hundreds or even thousands of people lost their homes.

Read: Dozens Dead as Israel Escalates Aerial Bombardments on Palestinians in Gaz

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