DPR RI Supports Humanitarian Mission In Palestine, UNRWA Appreciates Indonesia's Commitment

Chairman of the BKSAP DPR RI, Fadli Zon on the sidelines of the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPU) trial in Geneva, Switzerland (Ist)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the increasingly worrying humanitarian crisis in Palestine, unfortunately, many major countries have decided to stop humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. However, Indonesia remains committed to providing support to Palestine through parliamentary diplomatic efforts carried out by the Indonesian House of Representatives in various world parliamentary forums.

Chairman of the BKSAP DPR RI, Fadli Zon, held a bilateral meeting with the Director of UNRWA, Marta Lorenzo Rodriguez, and UNRWA Chief of Staff, Ben Majemodunmi, on the sidelines of the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPU) trial in Geneva, Switzerland on 23-28 March 2024.

They discussed the challenges faced by UNRWA in carrying out its humanitarian mission in Palestine, especially in the context of the blockade of humanitarian access by Israel.

Ben Majemodunmi, who recently returned from Gaza, conveyed the alarming conditions there, including acute hunger and lack of access to clean water. UNRWA hopes that the world parliament can unite in encouraging political commitments to ensure safe humanitarian access in Palestine.

Fadli Zon denounced Israel's actions in blocking the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, particularly in the condition of acute hunger and the month of Ramadan. On March 25, 2024, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to stop Israeli attacks on Palestinians and encourage the release of hostages, expected to open safe humanitarian access in Palestine.

Marta Lorenzo criticized the distribution of humanitarian aid in Palestine through ineffective and attack-prone airways. Fadli hopes that the cooperation between Indonesian zakat institutions and UNRWA can be realized.

As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has great zakat potential, which has been proven in its solidarity with Palestine through various humanitarian donations.

"As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has a very large chance of zakat and this has been proven how many of our people distribute zakat and its infaq to help the Palestinian people. Derita Palestine is our common suffering. Of course, Indonesia will not remain silent seeing our brothers and sisters in Palestine facing the humanitarian crisis as it is today," said Fadli Zon in a written statement received by VOI on Wednesday night, March 27.

The Indonesian House of Representatives is committed to supporting Palestinian independence and helping to alleviate the humanitarian crisis through humanitarian assistance channeled through international organizations such as UNRWA.