REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA --Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to exert all efforts to realize a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible between Israel and the Palestinians.

Speaking at the Extraordinary Meeting of OIC Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Retno also urged the OIC to send a strong message and mobilize international support to address the worsening conflict situation in Gaza.

“Given that the UN Security Council (UNSC) is incapable of performing its functions, then in order to gain stronger international support the OIC should urge the UN General Assembly to hold an emergency session,” Retno said in a copy of his press statement.

The comment likely refereing to the failure of UNSC to pass resolution on the humanitarian pause to the genocide being conducted by Israel in Gaza. The United States vetoed the much needed action in the UNSC meeting, last night.

Later, Indonesia called on the OIC to urge all relevant parties to create a humanitarian corridor in Gaza, as well as ensure international humanitarian law is respected.

Israel's unilateral actions, which block access to electricity, water, and fuel oil and punish civilians, are in violation of international law.

“Every second means a lot to Palestinians who are threatened with their fundamental rights. Any attempt that leads to the expulsion of the population in Gaza must be rejected,” Retno said.

Further, Indonesia called on the OIC to urge the continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, in order to achieve a two-state solution as the only way to address the roots of the conflict.

Retno insists that lasting peace will not be achieved without the fulfilment of the rights of the Palestinian people.

“At the end of the statement, Indonesia reiterated that the OIC was established to liberate the Palestinians. Now is the time for the OIC to act and we must act together,” he said.

“Indonesia does not want to see the current situation in Gaza used by Israel and other countries to eliminate the Palestinian issue and the rights of the Palestinian people. Do not allow Israel to continue its occupation of Palestinian land,” Retno said.

The meeting of the OIC in Jeddah was considered very important to strengthen the unity of the OIC position in dealing with the situation in Gaza, which is increasingly worrying and exacerbated by the latest attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on Tuesday (17/10/2023).

Indonesia has strongly condemned Israeli attacks on civilian facilities, including one that targeted a Baptist hospital, killing at least 500 people.

In addition, during the meeting of the OIC, Indonesia also expressed strong condemnation of the aggression against civilians in Gaza and the entire occupied territory in Palestine.

“Israel's request to vacate 22 hospitals in Gaza is an inhumane act and contrary to international humanitarian law, and should be ignored,” Retno said.

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