Indonesia Will Invite The International Community To Pressure Israel At The Palestinian Summit

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will invite the international community to pressure Israel to stop violence in the Gaza Strip and end its occupation of Palestine in a meeting at the United Nations next week.

The United Nations will hold a High Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York, United States on June 17-20.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rolliansyah 'Roy' Soemirat said Indonesia, which is one of the main components of the high-level conference (KTT).

Roy said that currently, various outcome documents are still being prepared which are expected to be ratified, adopted at the time of the UN conference.

"We are currently together with Italy chairing one of the working groups from the conference, which discussed specifically the security aspects related to the two countries or regionals within the framework of implementing a two-state solution," he explained in a press statement in Jakarta, Thursday, June 12.

"Indonesia will use this conference to continue to invite the international community to increase pressure on Israel to stop all violence in Gaza and end the illegal occupation of the Palestinians," said Roy.

"Indonesia will continue to echo the recognition of Palestine as an international sovereign country," he said, adding that Indonesia would be represented by the deputy foreign minister at this conference.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono urged the upcoming Palestinian Summit in the United States to discuss the issue of Israeli blockade and guarantees of humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said in his posts on social media, following the intercept of a ship carrying activists and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Palestine to open an Israeli blockade on Monday.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said he would urge the UN forum to discuss the issue of blockade and access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

"In various forums, I always call for the opening of all aid routes to Gaza is a must. At the upcoming Palestinian summit in New York, I will urge the international community, especially the UN DK, act decisively, protect civilians and adopt a resolution to end the blockade and guarantee humanitarian access," explained the Indonesian Foreign Minister.

It is known that the Madleen ship carrying 12 activists and humanitarian aid was intercepted by the Israeli military while trying to penetrate the Gaza blockade on Monday. The humanitarian ship, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC), had the British flag and departed from Sicily, Italy on June 6.

The FCC said the ship was carrying a number of symbolic aids, including rice and baby formula milk. The ship also carries activist Greta Thunberg and 11 cross-border humanitarian activists, including Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from France.

"I strongly condemn the interception of Madleen ships by Israel in international waters when sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. Actions that once again show Israel's indifference to international law and are a severe blow to the suffering of the Gaza people," the Indonesian Foreign Minister criticized.

"Israel's land and sea blocades are a form of collective punishment that exacerbates the risk of mass hunger. By international law ICJ orders, Israel is obliged to ensure humanitarian aid is distributed in a sustainable and unrestricted manner, and ensures the safety of humanitarian workers," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.