REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LONDON -- Newly appointed United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Affairs in Palestine Makarim Wibisono recently met Vatican's Foreign Affairs Minister Archbishop Dominique Mamberti di Terza Loggia del Apostolico in Vatican.
This information was released in a press statement by Indonesia's Embassy in Vatican here on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Makarim who is a senior diplomat from Indonesia appreciated Pope Francis' efforts to facilitate reconciliation between Israel and Palestine. In May 2014, Pope Francis visited Jerusalem and met Israel's President Simon Peres and Palestine's President Mohamoud Abbas. The pope also visited Palestinian families in Bethlehem and the West Bank.
Makarim also updated the Vatican's foreign affairs minister on the latest situation in Gaza, Palestine, after a ceasefire agreement took place on August 26. Makarim stated that humanitarian aid from the World Food Program had reached Gaza.
According to UN's data, about 2.1 thousand Palestinians died due to Israel's military attack in Gaza, of which 500 were children. From Israel, 59 troops died and there were four civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Vatican's foreign affairs minister emphasized that his country fully supports any efforts to restore peace in Palestine.
Earlier, United States' Secretary of State John Kerry said he supported the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine and expressed hope that it will be sustainable and "bring about an enduring end to the conflict in Gaza."
"As soon as calm is restored, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza must be accelerated, and the United States and the international community are fully committed to supporting this effort," affirmed Kerry in a statement.
The US noted that it is prepared to work with international partners and the Palestinian authority on reconstruction initiatives and "ensure that this is for the benefit of the civilian population in Gaza, not Hamas and other terrorist organizations."
The US highlighted that this ceasefire has solidified due to the combined efforts of Egyptians, Israelis, and the Palestinian authority in the region.
"We are all aware that this is an opportunity, not a certainty," asserted Kerry.
"Today's agreement comes after many hours and days of intensive discussions about how a sustainable ceasefire might provide the space and the opportunity to address long-term issues," he remarked.
"Israelis should be able to live in peace and security, without terrorist attacks, without rockets, without tunnels, without sirens going off, and families scrambling to bomb shelters, the secretary stressed.
"Palestinians also need to be able to live in peace and security and be able to avail full economic and social opportunities to build better lives for themselves and for their children," he reiterated.
"We are approaching the next phase with our eyes wide open," he added.
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