Foreign Minister Retno: Israel is Turning Gaza Into Hell, International Humanitarian Law Must be Respected and Enforced

The Indonesian Foreign Minister attended a WHO meeting on Gaza, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Israel had turned Gaza into hell, attacks in the area continued to increase, the number of deaths continued to increase, assessing the situation of health facilities in the Palestinian enclave as very worrying.

Arriving in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday (10/12) morning local time, Foreign Minister Retno attended a Special Meeting of the WHO Executive Board which discussed the situation in Gaza, WHO's executive organ under the World Health Assembly which has 34 members. Apart from members of the Executive Board, this meeting was also attended by non-member countries who were concerned about the situation in Gaza.

"Therefore, it is important for Indonesia to be present so that it can directly contribute, emphasizing the importance of improving health facilities, protecting health facilities and personnel. This includes, of course, the Indonesian Hospital health facilities," said Foreign Minister Retno in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday, December 11.

She further said that the situation of health facilities in Gaza was very worrying.

Of the 36 hospitals in the region, continued Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno, only 13 are still operating. Even then, all of them experienced excess capacity of up to 2-3 times.

"71 percent of health care facilities in Gaza are not functioning. Medical equipment, medicines, food, clean water, petrol, and electricity are increasingly limited. Hundreds of medical workers have been killed since Israel attacked Gaza. WHO reports that the spread of infectious diseases is increasing, almost 130 thousand cases of acute respiratory infections, more than 94 thousand cases of diarrhea, and more than 2.700 cases of chickenpox," explained Foreign Minister Retno.

"Gaza is currently under siege. Israel has turned Gaza into hell. The number of people dying continues to increase," stressed Foreign Minister Retno.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno revealed that hospitals experienced heavy attacks, including the Indonesian Hospital which was forced to stop operating on November 16. Additionally, the Israel Defense Force's (IDF) order for medical supplies to be moved from Khan Younis to a smaller warehouse in Rafah, is a gross violation of international law and human rights.

Saying that Indonesia has become a co-sponsor of the Resolution on Health Condition in the Occupied Palestine Territory, including East Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Retno revealed three important things that must be done.

"First, the importance of accelerating health assistance for Gaza. Indonesia urges Israel to respect the right to health and access of the Gaza community to health facilities," said Foreign Minister Retno.

​"Second, the importance of protecting all workers and medical facilities. International Humanitarian Law must be respected and enforced. Indonesia urges accountability and justice for all attacks on workers and medical facilities in Gaza," she continued.

"Third, the importance of increasing the mobilization of support for WHO. This support is very necessary for the operation of WHO and UNRWA programs in Gaza," she stressed.

Indonesia also supports WHO to hold donors conference to finance and rebuild the Palestinian health system, added Foreign Minister Retno.