US Announces IDR 1.58 Trillion Aid For Palestinians In Gaza

US President Joe Biden/PHOTO via Instagram @potus

JAKARTA - The United States (US) announced 100 million US dollars in humanitarian aid (around Rp1.58 trillion) for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The aid was announced by US President Joe Biden during a visit to Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, October 18.

In a White House statement released via its website, the funds will be used to provide basic needs for more than one million Palestinians forced to flee or become victims of conflict, including providing clean water, food, sanitation facilities, health services, and other important needs.

"Civil residents are not to blame and should not suffer from the horrific acts of Hamas terrorism. Civilians must be protected and aid must reach those in need immediately," the White House said.

"The United States will continue to work closely with countries in the region to ensure that war laws are enforced, assist people seeking safety or assistance, and provide access to basic necessities such as food, water, medical care, and shelter," the statement continued.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held telephone talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Tuesday (17/10), to discuss the bombing targeting a hospital in Gaza.

In the talks, Blinken also discussed US efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, cooperate with partner countries, and prevent widespread conflict.

Israel continues to carry out intensive attacks in Gaza for 11 days and cut off the flow of water, electricity, food, and medicine to the Gaza Strip.

The move sparked local and international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe that occurred in conjunction with Israeli attacks and arrests in Palestinian cities.

Israel also launched a deadly attack on a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday night local time, which killed about 500 people.

Israel's bombing of hospitals in Gaza sparked a strong reaction from Arab countries.

Quoted from Anadolu, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "demonstrates the heinous crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces by bombing hospitals, causing the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including children, and injuring people".

In a statement, Saudi Arabia firmly rejected the brutal attack and called on the international community to stop implementing double standards related to Israeli criminal practices.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry called the hospital bombing a brutal killing and heinous crimes against helpless civilians.

Qatar also said the action was a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.