Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia on Attacks in Gaza, Palestine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 19, 2023

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Indonesia condemns the attacks in Gaza that have resulted in people suffering and an increasing number of civilian casualties, including women and children.

Indonesia also condemns the Israeli attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital that violates international humanitarian law.

To that end, I have ordered Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi to attend an extraordinary meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah and to take steps to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Gaza.

Indonesia will not stay silent while civilian casualties continue to count, witnessing the ongoing injustices against the Palestinian people.

Indonesia, together with the OIC, sends a strong message to the world to stop the [conflict] escalation, to stop the act of violence, to focus on humanitarian issues, and to resolve the root of the problems, namely the Israeli occupation of the Palestine.

It is the time that the world go hand in hand to build a global solidarity to resolve the Palestinian issue fairly by observing agreed international parameters.

Indonesia will continue to voice this issue at various international events and forums, including during bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and at the ASEAN-GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] Summit tomorrow.

(AP/EP)