Indonesia condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip

JAKARTA, Indonesia

Indonesia on Wednesday condemned the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip which have claimed dozens of Palestinian lives.

"Indonesia will continue to work with the Palestinian people and nation in fighting for their rights," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a virtual press conference.

Marsudi said the country will continue to do its best to support Palestine in the UN General Assembly

"Indonesia also proposed that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) immediately hold a special meeting to discuss this issue," she said.

Earlier on Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the Israeli police violence against Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Widodo emphasized that the expulsion of Palestinian civilians from their homes and the use of force against them at the Al-Aqsa Mosque must not be ignored.

He urged the UN Security Council to take measures on the repeated violations carried out by Israel.

Tensions have been running high since last week after an Israeli court ordered the evictions of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

Palestinians protesting in solidarity with residents of Sheikh Jarrah have been targeted by Israeli forces.

Also, airstrikes on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces have resulted in the killings of 48 Palestinians with 306 others injured.

Five Israelis have also been killed and 45 others injured in Palestinian rocket attacks.

*Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo with Anadolu Agency’s Indonesian language services in Jakarta