21-11-2023 (JAKARTA) The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, has vehemently condemned the Israeli tank attacks on the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, which resulted in the death of 12 civilians on November 20. Ms. Retno, speaking from Beijing, referred to the attack as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. She called upon all nations, especially those with close ties to Israel, to utilize their influence and capabilities to pressure Israel into ceasing its atrocities.
Following the attack, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lost contact with three Indonesian volunteers who were working at the hospital. The ministry is currently collaborating with relevant parties such as the United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the World Health Organization to monitor the situation at the health facility and ensure the safety of the volunteers.
Accompanied by other Muslim and Arab foreign ministers, Ms. Retno initiated a tour to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, commencing with China, in an effort to push for an end to the war in Gaza.
????????Update from Gaza: Indonesia hospital in northern Gaza is under siege & fire in an apparent repeat of the Shifa hospital assault. The vicinity of the Indonesia hospital was under violent bombardment & shelling all night. pic.twitter.com/06jdKOjmEN
— Nour Odeh ???????? #NojusticeNopeace (@nour_odeh) November 20, 2023
According to Ashraf Al Qudra, the spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry, eleven patients and a relative of a patient lost their lives in the attack on the Indonesian Hospital. Al Qudra stated that approximately 700 individuals, including medical personnel and injured individuals, were present inside the hospital during the attack, resulting in a “catastrophic” situation. Despite the dire circumstances, the hospital staff insisted on remaining to care for the injured.
Palestine’s Wafa news agency reported that Israeli soldiers indiscriminately fired at any movement near the hospital’s entrance. However, Palestinian officials, the Indonesian foreign ministry, and the Indonesian humanitarian organization Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), which funds the hospital, have all denied the Israeli claim that the Indonesian Hospital is being used as a cover for Hamas’ underground command and control center.
Located in Jabalia in northern Gaza, the Indonesian Hospital was established in 2011 through donations raised by MER-C from the public, including contributions from organizations such as the Indonesian Red Cross and the major Muslim group Muhammadiyah. Equipped with 100 beds and four operating theaters, the hospital commenced operations in 2016.
The Israeli blockade on fuel, electricity, and water entering Gaza, as well as limited aid deliveries, has severely impacted not only the Indonesian Hospital but also more than 20 other medical facilities. Consequently, on November 16, the Indonesian Hospital had to suspend its services due to a shortage of staff, depleted fuel reserves, and inadequate supplies amidst an overwhelming influx of patients.
On the same day, Israeli soldiers conducted a ground operation at Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in Gaza. The Israeli military claimed that Hamas’ headquarters were situated in tunnels beneath the hospital, an allegation rejected by the group.
On November 20, Ms. Retno, accompanied by her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine, as well as officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. During the meeting, they collectively called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian aid to the war-torn region. China, assuming the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for November, holds significance in this diplomatic effort.
Apart from China, the delegation of Arab and Muslim ministers intends to seek Russia’s support in ending the hostilities perpetuated by Israel. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 individuals, predominantly civilians, due to Israeli air strikes since October 7. This escalation began when Hamas militants invaded Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of around 240 individuals as hostages.
