Indonesia Condemns Israeli Attack on Indonesian Hospital in Gaza

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Indonesia condemns the Israeli attack on the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, which has left several civilians dead, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said on Monday, November 20, 2023.

"The attack is a real violation of the international humanitarian law," she added, according to a transcript of her statement, which was released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Retno Marsudi urged all countries, especially those that have close relations with Israel, to use their influence and power to urge it to stop its atrocities.

She said that her ministry has lost contact with three Indonesian citizens volunteering at the Indonesian Hospital.

Three Indonesian volunteers, (from left) Fikri Rofiul Haq, Reza Aldilla Kurniawan, and Farid Zanzabil Al-Ayubi, as volunteers for the Medical and Humanitarian Institute (MER-C) at the Indonesian Hospital (RSI) in northern Gaza. Source: personal documents/mer-c

"I have contacted UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) in Gaza to ask about the situation at the Indonesian Hospital and received an answer that UNRWA cannot make contact with anyone at the Indonesian Hospital at this time," she informed.

The minister further stated that her ministry has also tried to get in touch with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross, but has not received an answer yet from the two organizations.

"I will continue to try to contact various parties to get information regarding the Indonesian Hospital and the safety of the three Indonesian citizens," she affirmed.

Currently, Marsudi is in Beijing, China, along with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, and the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The visit to Beijing is aimed at drumming up support from the permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian assistance without hindrance.

China is one of the permanent members of the UNSC besides the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France.

After China, the foreign ministers of the OIC will fly to Moscow to secure its support.

According to an Al Jazeera report, at least 12 people were killed in Israeli attacks at the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza since Monday morning local time after Israeli tanks surrounded the building.

Last week, Israel attacked Al-Shifa Hospital, accusing Hamas of running an underground command center under the hospital.

The Palestinian resistance group denied the accusation.

More than 13,000 people have died in Gaza due to Israeli bombardment since October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, the death toll on the Israeli side has only reached 1,200. A far cry in comparison from tens of thousands civilians who had been killed by Israel troops in Gaza.

ANTARA

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