JAKARTA: The first shipment of Indonesian humanitarian help for Gaza left Jakarta on Saturday, consisting of water purifiers and medical equipment.
According to Arab News, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto oversaw the dispatching of aid and relief from the Halim Perdanakusuma army airport.
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In a statement, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that the humanitarian tragedy taking pace in the Gaza Strip is not acceptable and must stop immediately. He reiterated that Indonesia would always stand by the Palestinians. He further said that the help is based on the needs and requirements of the people in Gaza.
Two army aircraft carrying the first batch of help, comprising twenty-one tons of medical kits, medicine, food, water purification devices and blankets were sent off on Saturday. A third cargo aircraft with thirty tons of help is scheduled to be sent in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Israel laid a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off fuel, food, water and electricity, as it started a daily bombing of the Palestinian enclave since October 7 after Hamas surprise attack in Israel.
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Deadly Israeli strikes, targeting hospitals and residential buildings, have killed more than 9,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured tens of thousands more.
Zuhair Al-Shun, Palestine’s envoy to Indonesia, thanked the government of Indonesia and people for their help and firm support.
Zuhair Al-Shun maintained that Indonesia is always behind the Palestinians and they were very proud of Indonesia’s people, very proud of President Widodo, and also their sister Retno Marsudi. The envoy further said that Indonesia FM is working and fighting with along the people of Palestine in the diplomatic front as well.
In a statement via social media, the Indonesian FM said the help came from the government and the people of Indonesia. She added that Indonesia would always stand with Palestinians and “the humanitarian help is a reflection of Indonesia’s solidarity.”
Indonesia has long been a staunch supporter of the people of Palestine, with its authorities seeing Palestinian statehood as mandated by their own constitution, which calls for the elimination of colonialism.
