Media Magelang - Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi urged the United Nations (UN) to take serious actions to stop violence in Gaza that has killed more than 230 people as of 18 May 2021.
In her opening statement, Marsudi stated that her presence at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was for the sake of humanity, the justice for Palestinians as well as to call for a ceasefire to save innocent civilians in Gaza.
"I am here today to fight for humanity. I am here today to fight for justice for the Palestinian people. I am here today to call for an end to the violence and for an immediate ceasefire to save the lives of innocent people including women and children," the minister addressed the UNGA on 20 May 2021.
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Indonesia has been a long-time supporter of the independence of Palestine.
When Indonesia was a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the country put the Palestine issue as the top five priority, said international relations expert Yulius Purwadi during the interview with Media Magelang on 18 May 2021.
As ceasefire resumes, here is what Indonesia can do to support Palestine
Israel and Hamas finally reached an unconditional cease-fire agreement after the 11-day fight, meaning that all concerned parties will stop fighting for some time.
Indonesia also called for a cease-fire as well as the smooth distribution of humanitarian aid and multilateral dialogue.
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"The most important thing is that Hamas must stop firing rockets. Our family was traumatized by the attack. the cease-fire is a predictable pattern," an Israeli columnist Varda Epstein told Media Magelang in a telephone interview on 19 May 2021.
The mother of 12 added that Hamas included Jerusalem in the cease-fire so as to be the defender of the people of both Gaza and the PA, citing an article written by an Arab Israeli journalist, Khaled Abu Toameh in Jerusalem Post posted on 18 May 2021.
"This is a political move designed to draw favour toward Hamas and away from the PA's Mahmoud Abbas," she explained.
Yulius stated that Indonesia has more rooms to exert its influence in supporting Palestine even though it is no longer a non-permanent member at the UNSC.
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"We can start lobbying countries that have yet to support Palestine as an independent state. It sounds like talk is cheap, but such an option is not seriously considered yet," said the lecturer at Parahyangan University, Bandung.
As of July 2019, as many as 138 out of 193 UN members recognized Palestine, worldpopulationreview data stated.
As of December 2020, Israel received recognition from 167 out of 193 UN member countries, Jewishvirtuallibrary said.
When it comes to the Israel-Palestine issue, a condemnation without a concrete action means nothing, the lecturer added, stressing lobbying countries that have yet to acknowledge Palestine can be a good option.
As the unconditional cease-fire resumes in Gaza, the world is watching what will happen next.***