Antara, Jakarta – Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, and a number of other state officials attended the Pro-Palestine Rally in the National Monument (Monas) area, Jakarta, Sunday, November 5, 2023. This rally is held to provide support for the Palestinian people who are still continue to be assaulted by the Israeli military.
According to Antara, apart from Puan, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi were also said to have been present in the Monas area. The former Governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate from the Coalition for Change, Anies Baswedan, is also present there. Also present are the former General Chair of the MUI as well as the former General Chair of PP Muhammadiyah Din Syamsuddin who served as Chief Action Director.
Tens of thousands of people filled the area. They mostly wear white clothes. Most of the crowd carried flags, scarves and also clothes bearing Palestinian symbols and even posters condemning the ferocity of Israel's attacks. They condemned the Israeli military attack which has killed around 10,000 Palestinians.
The Pro-Palestine Rally is planned to take place from 06:00 WIB to 10:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) in the morning. There will be a number of speeches from interfaith figures.
"The Indonesian People's Alliance, which consists of cross-religions, cross-organizations, cross-groups, is invited to take part in the rally to defend Palestine," said MUI Chairman for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (2/11).
Condemning the Israeli occupation on Palestine
Sudarnoto said the action was aimed at condemning Israel's aggression and the occupation of the Palestinian people by the Israelis.
This Pro-Palestine Rally is held after Israel launched attacks on civilians in Palestine since early October. The military aggression is said to have killed around 10,000 civilians there. Various countries condemned the Israeli attack and urged them to stop it immediately.
Indonesia sends humanitarian aid
The Indonesian government itself sent 51.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestine last Saturday. This assistance covers various types of needs such as food and medicine, clothes for women and children. There were also disability support tools – hygiene kits, blankets and other items.
The aid will be flown to El Arish Airport in Egypt, which is closest to Gaza. From the airport, aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent to then be distributed to Gaza through the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – two humanitarian agencies operating there.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1792807/pro-palestine-rally-joined-by-anies-baswedan-and-puan-maharan