Indonesian Ex-VP Meets Hamas Political Leader, Conveys Support for Palestine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla emphasized his stance of solidarity and conveyed the Indonesian people's support for Palestinian independence when he met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha on Friday, July 12, 2024.

In a statement on Saturday, July 13, 2024, Jusuf Kalla also expressed his condolences to the Palestinian people who were victims of the ongoing conflict.

He said that the world is now focusing on Gaza, and everyone is concerned about the security conditions and all aspects of life in Gaza.

"The world is devastated by this humanitarian tragedy," Kalla said, according to the statement.

As Chair of the Indonesian Red Cross, he conveyed the difficulty in delivering aid to Gaza due to the blockade carried out by Israel.

He also advised the Hamas organization to always show unity and togetherness with Al Fatah, including Hamas' internal relations to improve conditions in Palestine.

He emphasized that without unity of aspirations and institutions, solving problems in Gaza will only get more complicated.

Kalla also proposed to make a humanitarian plan in Gaza in the form of drawing up programs based on a priority scale, such as treating injured and sick victims and rescuing women, the elderly, and children, to prevent the increasing number of war victims.

However, Kalla reminded Haniyeh that this could only be effective if the violence stopped first.

“If violence can be stopped, then reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza can be carried out. All of our efforts must start from a humanitarian perspective, not about politics and ideological views," he remarked.

During the meeting, Haniyeh also explained the current conditions in Gaza, including developing humanitarian and political issues.

He highly praised the Republic of Indonesia's diplomatic position and role, its provision of humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza, its contribution in treating injured victims, its movement in demonstrations, and its broad solidarity with the Palestinian people.

ANTARA

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