Palestinian Ambassador To The Republic Of Indonesia Calls Israel Controlling The Entry Flow Of Goods And People In Gaza

Indonesia sent 51.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestine via Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Saturday, November 4, 2023. (doc Setkab)

JAKARTA - Palestinian Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Zuhair Al-Shun said the Israeli authorities were still controlling the flow of entry and exit of goods as well as people from Gaza, Palestine.

The control applies through mandatory inspection of people and goods from authorities in Israel before people and goods enter and leave Gaza, mainly through the border in Rafah, an area in Palestine bordering Egypt.

"All humanitarian aid (for the Palestinian people in Gaza, ed.) even from the Government of Indonesia (centrally sent) in El Arish, Sinai, Egypt. (The aids can only enter Gaza, ed.) waiting for permission from Israel," said Ambassador Zuhair when met at the Ministry of Defense Office (Kemhan), Jakarta, Wednesday, November 8, confiscated by Antara.

Therefore, the scholarship program from the Government of Indonesia for Palestinian students, which was first awarded this year, can only be accepted by Palestinian students from the West Bank or West Bank.

Previously, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto welcomed the arrival of 22 Palestinian students who received scholarships at the Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 8.

The Palestinian students studied undergraduate education at the University of Indonesia (UI) for 5 years, of which 1 year was used for Indonesian language education at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense Education and Language Training Agency.

The scholarship recipients are students majoring in Medical Science, Pharmacy, Electronic Engineering, Machine Engineering, and Informatics Engineering.

"These students are all from the West Bank. God willing, the next one from Gaza can also get scholarships and attend school here," said Zuhair.

Gaza has been the target of Israeli airstrikes since last month after Hamas on October 7, 2023 attacked Israeli territory by land and air. As of today, the total death toll in Gaza exceeds 10,000 people.

Despite the large number of civilian casualties, the Israeli military (IDF) has not stopped attacks, although the United Nations and the majority of world countries, including Indonesia, demand that attacks be stopped for the sake of humanity.

President Joko Widodo, on various occasions, strongly condemned the violence against Palestinians and asked Israel to stop the attack.

Meanwhile, to help the struggle of the Palestinian people, especially those who were victims of war, the Indonesian government sent humanitarian aid weighing more than 50 tons to Gaza on Sunday, November 4.

The aid arrived at El Arish Air Base, Egypt, on Monday 6 November. The aid was handed over to Egypt's Red Crescent to be brought to Gaza via the United Nations Agency for Refugees in Palestine (UNRWA).

El Arish is currently the main goal of humanitarian aids to Gaza sent from various countries. El Arish's distance to the Palestinian and Egyptian borders in Rafah is approximately 30 kilometers.