MUI Affirms Indonesian Hospital In Gaza Built For Humanity

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) emphasized that the Indonesian Hospital (RSI) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, is a medical facility built for humanity.

"Israel is not unaware that the Indonesian Hospital was built under the MER-C initiative and is collaborating with the Palestinian side for humanity," said MUI Chairman for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 10.

He said Israel's accusations about the existence of a network of tunnels under which Hamas used to launch an attack constituted a slander that could not be forgiven.

"Indonesian Hospital in Gaza as a place of hiding for Hamas is a slander that cannot be forgiven and is very heinous. This is an excuse to kill Gaza," he said.

Sudarnoto also said the attack on humanitarian facilities in Gaza, including hospitals and ambulances, was an act that violated international humanitarian penalties as a war crime.

"Moreover, there is an international humanitarian law that should not attack medical facilities," he said.

"Indonesia once again condemns barbaric attacks on citizens and civilian objects, especially humanitarian facilities in Gaza," said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lalu Muhammad Iqbal.

The statement was made by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman via text message in response to the bombing incident by Israel around a number of hospitals in Gaza, including Indonesian hospitals.

Iqbal also mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had communicated with the Indonesian humanitarian volunteer agency MER-C in Gaza and received information that three Indonesian volunteers at the Indonesian Hospital could be contacted and in good condition.

According to him, the Israeli rocket target is the Taliza'tar area which is located very close to the Indonesian Hospital.

Israeli warplanes bombarded eight hospitals in the Gaza Strip in the past three days, state media offices in Gaza reported on Thursday.

Israel's aggression has forced 18 hospitals to shut down since October 7, according to a statement by the media office.

It said Israeli artillery cannons opened fire on the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital and the gate of Al-Nasr Hospital in the trapped area.