Minister Retno to British Counterpart: 'Israel's Atrocities Have Crossed the Line'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi visited London to meet with her British counterpart David Cameron to discuss Israel and Gaza on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The visit was part of the tour to push for international action to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine as mandated by the recent joint OIC-Arab League Summit.

Retno made the visit alongside her Saudi Arabian, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Nigerian, and Turkish counterparts, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League.

“I said [in the meeting] that what is happening in Gaza has crossed the line and is completely unacceptable from any perspective and any values or standards,” Retno said in an online press statement on Thursday, Jakarta time.

She therefore called for an immediate end to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, stressing the need for a permanent ceasefire and an end to attacks on humanitarian facilities and civilians.

According to her, what is currently happening in Gaza is a continuation of acts of injustice against the Palestinian people, a continuation of Israel's illegal occupation, and a continuation of Israel's desire to eliminate Palestine.

“The words often used by Israel that it is self-defense are only used as a pretext (justification). Self-defense doesn't mean a license to kill civilians,” Minister Retno remarked.

Indonesia urged the UN Security Council to take moral responsibility in fighting for justice and humanity. As a permanent member of the UNSC, the UK has veto power.

“In a discussion with Secretary Cameron, I said that it is time for Western countries to apply their values of respect for human rights and international law to Palestine. Indonesia hopes that the UK will stand on the side of the fight for justice and humanity,” said Retno.

The United Kingdom is one of the countries that has been vocal in its support for Israel against the Palestinian group, Hamas, in Gaza. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak even visited Jerusalem last October to express solidarity with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

This support for Israel's right to self-defense was used as an excuse to bombard Gaza in response to the cross-border attack launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

ANTARA 

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