Antara, Jakarta – Hundreds of "Free Palestine" protesters gathered in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta on Saturday to mark the 100th day since Israel's ongoing aggression in Gaza.
The crowd had begun to assemble at the US Embassy since 5:30 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time). Several protesters were observed bringing their children to join the rally.
Agus, a resident of Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, attended the protest with his wife and two children aged 11 and 4. Agus said that his intention in bringing his children was for educational purposes, hoping to instill empathy and love for fellow human beings.
"The goal is for them to develop a sense of caring for fellow human beings, especially fellow Muslims. So that they can also learn about what is right and wrong, like what Israel does to children in Palestine," the 41-year-old told news agency Antara on Saturday.
Indah from Bogor also brought her 8-month-old child. She mentioned that she departed from Bogor before dawn. Although her husband could not join, she decided to make the long journey with her 21-year-old sister, carrying her child, to express their support for the children and women in Palestine.
"I have obtained permission from my husband, but unfortunately, he couldn't come. Even so, I still came here to show support for women, mothers, and children who are the main targets of Israel's attacks. It is difficult to imagine the pain felt by mothers who lose their children in Gaza. So, the journey from Bogor to Jakarta is incomparable to their sacrifices there," said the 35-year-old.
Hundreds of protesters echoed chants of "Free Palestine" and demanded that Israel cease its actions. Their demands also included urging Israel to immediately vacate the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza and refrain from using it as a military base.
The Pro-Palestine rally in front of the US. Embassy on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, is part of millions of humanitarian activists participating in the Global Action Day for Gaza or Global Protest Action held in 100 cities worldwide, calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, Palestine.
The ongoing genocide and mass slaughter under Israeli occupation have claimed the lives of more than 23,000 Palestinian civilians. The food and medical crisis in Gaza continues to worsen an already dire situation.
In The Hague, Netherlands, South Africa formally accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, urging the United Nations' International Court of Justice to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Israel, founded after the Holocaust, strongly denies the allegations, and its leaders are engaging with the court to defend their international reputation.
"Nothing will stop the suffering except an order from this court," South African lawyer Adila Hassim told the judges and audience in a packed room of the Peace Palace in The Hague on Thursday.
A decision on South Africa's request for so-called provisional measures will probably take weeks. The full case is likely to last years.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/hundreds-of-indonesians-join-global-rally-demanding-end-to-gaza-genocid