REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian government and public have condemned Israel for killing many innocent Palestinian people including children in the military attacks on Gaza over the past few days.
"Indonesia condemns Israel's military offensive in Gaza. It is an act that has caused a lot of innocent casualties in Palestine, and it has created a new obstacle in the efforts to create a condition conducive for the continuation of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine," stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa in Jakarta, on Thursday.
At least 88 Palestinians, most of them civilians that included 14 children, have been killed in Israels Gaza offensive, Palestinian officials said on July 10. Children have often become victims of Israeli cruelty as reported by Reuters on June 2013 that a United Nations human rights body accused Israeli forces of mistreating Palestinian children, including by torturing those in custody and using others as human shields.
Most Palestinian children arrested were accused of having thrown stones, an offense which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, the committee said as reported by Reuters.
"The UN Security Council and the international community must press Israel to stop its violent action against civilians in Palestines Gaza. This circle of violence needs to end," Natalegawa emphasized.
The minister noted that Israel's recent military action had aggravated the distress of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. Marty described the military action as a "collective punishment" conducted by Israel on the people of Palestine.
"It must be understood that the core problem here is Israel occupying Palestines area. This must end. We must push through the peace negotiation process between Israel and Palestine in order for them to agree on a two-state solution," the minister stated.
Indonesia will work with the Palestinian authority and leaders from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to draw international attention towards the situation in Gaza, according to him.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
