Indonesian Minister Retno Marsudi to Attend UNSC Debate on Gaza

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi departed for New York, United States, this Monday afternoon, Nov. 27, to attend a high-level debate on the Gaza issue at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Retno and fellow diplomats from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will join the talks.

“We will fly to New York this afternoon to attend a high-level debate at the UN Security Council,” she said today in a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I at the Parliament Building, Senayan, on the current situation in Gaza and the government’s foreign policy in calling for a ceasefire and support for Palestine. She was accompanied by the Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Mansury.

According to Retno, international pressure must continue to realize an immediate de-escalation of the conflict in the Gaza enclave, which is under Israeli attack. The Security Council, she stressed, has a moral responsibility to maintain security and peace and to stand up for justice and humanity.

She mentioned that the UNSC 2712 Resolution that led to the four-day truce was a good start, but not enough to address the current situation. She and the other OIC members highlighted the importance of a more comprehensive and stronger UNSC resolution, especially for a permanent ceasefire and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian Truce

At the upcoming high-level debate, Indonesia will once again try to push the UNSC to “do more than what it has done so far”.

“Humanitarian aid is a short-term solution that we have to do now because we are talking about people’s lives,” Retno said. “After that, we have to deal with the big task of initiating a peace process towards a two-state solution based on agreed international parameters.”

The two-state solution allows for an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. However, the boundary is still a matter of dispute and negotiation, but it is mainly based on the 1967 lines. 

“We are addressing short-term humanitarian problems, which are humanitarian aid and ceasefire, but the root of the problem is the long-term issue of how to immediately begin the peace process to achieve a two-state solution,” Minister Retno Marsudi said.

NABIILA AZZAHRA A.

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