Hundreds Rally in Support of Palestine Before US Embassy, UN Office
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21 October 2023 10:09 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of people took to the streets on Friday, October 20, 2023, to join a rally in support of Palestine in front of the United States Embassy in Jakarta. The crowd then marched to the United Nations (UN) office in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
“We are here on the side of a country that should be independent,” one of the demonstrators said in his speech on the command car.
About 200 people began gathering in front of the U.S. Embassy building at 2 p.m. local time, said a police officer.
Apart from giving speeches, the crowd also burned Israeli flags and photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The pro-Palestine slogans "Free, free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", which have been echoed by demonstrators around the world, were also shouted during today’s action.
People were also seen carrying posters criticizing Israel for its occupation of Palestinian territories, and the U.S. for funding Israel.
Amid the long march to the UN office, the crowd stopped at a McDonald's branch outlet. The fast-food restaurant chain has recently come under fire for donating thousands of free meals to Israeli soldiers.
Indonesia for Palestine, the organization that initiated the action, called on the Indonesian government to help Palestine by sending the country’s primary weapons system (alutsista), food, and soldiers.
They also demanded that the UN designate Israel as a grave violator of human rights and a war criminal and impose sanctions on Israel.
Similar solidarity actions also took place throughout Indonesia. Residents of Yogyakarta, Semarang, Solo, Makassar, and Medan showed solidarity with Palestine by taking to the streets.
NABIILA AZZAHRA ABDULLAH
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