Israel Attacks Church In Gaza, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Implementation Of Humanitarian Law

Gaza Catholic Church, Holy Family Church/PHOTO And Palraz Via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) condemned Israel's attack on the Kudus Family Church in Gaza by stating the attack reflected full neglect of International Humanitarian Law.

"This attack reflects the complete neglect of the International and Humanitarian Laws and the purification of places of worship," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through uploads on social media X reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 18.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Indonesia firmly condemns Israel's attack on Thursday (17/7) on the only Catholic Church in Gaza, which has resulted in the death of innocent civilians.

"This further shows Israel's lack of commitment to fulfill its legal obligations as an Population Power, especially towards regional peace and stability," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote.

The ministry also emphasized that religious sites, medical facilities and other civil facilities should not be targeted and protected by international law.

Indonesia, he continued, urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take concrete steps to suppress Israel from stopping all violence and returning to ceasefire negotiations under the Two-State Solution.

Israel's attack on the church left two Gazans dead and 13 others injured, including Parish Pastor Gabriel Romanelli and a 3-year-old toddler and a person with disabilities.

As a result of the intentional attack, the church building which has accommodated many Palestinian Christians and Muslims who have been displaced since October 2023 and the surrounding facilities were badly damaged.

The Palestinian church committee has called on church leaders and Christian leaders around the world to vote and publicly condemn the Israeli attack.

In its deadly attack on the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers have bombed several places of worship, including Gaza Baptist Church and Greek Orthodox Church Santo Porphyriius, the oldest church in the Gaza Strip and the third oldest in the world.