Mahfud: Indonesia Together With South Africa Defend Palestine Through The International Court

Vice Presidential Candidate number 3 Mahfud MD (left) when giving information after visiting Darut Tauhid Canga'an Bangil Islamic Boarding School in Pasuruan Regency, East Java, Friday (12/1/2024). (ANTARA/Rio Feisal)

PASURIAN - Candidate for vice president number 3 Mahfud MD said Indonesia and South Africa both have the passion to defend Palestine.

The International Court (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday, January 11, held a hearing on Israel's genocide lawsuit against Palestinians filed by South Africa.

"If the spirit is, we will be with South Africa and defend Palestine," said Mahfud after visiting Darut Tauhid Canga'an Islamic Boarding School Bangil in Pasuruan Regency, East Java, Friday.

Mahfud also said Indonesia is pro against peace, so it is on the same side as South Africa.

"Indonesia is pro-peace. Therefore, any acts of violence, violations of humanity, such as genocide, mass destruction, must be fought," he added.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs also said that Indonesia could be present at the International Court trial.

"It depends, to attend it, it cannot be done alone, it must be summoned. Later it could be, if for example why Indonesia supports the UN, this is the reason, this is the document," said Mahfud.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing South Africa in a lawsuit hearing at the International Court, Vanessa Lowe, said genocide could not be justified under any circumstances.

Lowe, said that no matter how big the threat to Israelis from Palestinian groups, the destruction of them could not be justified.

"No matter what Palestinian groups in Gaza and no matter how big the threat to Israelis is. The genocide attacks on all of Gaza and its entire population, with the intention of destroying them, cannot be justified," saidLowe.