REPUBLICA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he would be an envoy from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington DC, United States, on Monday (13/11/2023). To Biden, Jokowi will push for the immediate halt of Israeli attack on Gaza.

“From the outcome of the OIC (summit), I will be sent to convey to President Joe Biden that the war should be stopped, it should be stopped immediately,” Jokowi said during a press briefing at SMKN 1 Purwakarta, Purwakarta Regency, West Java, on Thursday (9/11/2023).

Before traveling to the United States to meet with President Joe Biden, Jokowi is scheduled to attend an OIC summit in Saudi Arabia first. The OIC Extraordinary Summit was held to discuss the current situation in Gaza. Jokowi said he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday (10/11/2023) evening.

“This OIC summit is specifically talking about Gaza. I haven't spoken yet, but inshallah tomorrow night I will fly to Saudi Arabia to participate in the special OIC summit on Gaza and from there I will fly to meet with President Joe Biden,” he said.

As is known, leaders of Arab countries and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (7/11/2023) that a summit of Arab countries will be held in Riyadh on Saturday (11/11/2023) and that OIC leaders will meet on Sunday (12/11/2023) to discuss the conflict in Gaza and its humanitarian impact.

During the emergency meeting, OIC leaders will also discuss Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip, following a cross-border offensive launched by the Palestinian Hamas group on October 7, 2023.

The conflict has killed at least 10,328 Palestinians, while Israel has recorded nearly 1,600 of its citizens killed. In addition to the many casualties and massive refugee flows, the supply of basic necessities for Gaza's 2.3 million residents is further depleted as a result of the Israeli siege.

While the Coordinator of Special Staff of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ari Dwipayana said that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will meet with the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden in Washington DC, USA on Monday (13/11/2023). According to Ari, Biden's invitation to Jokowi's visit had been submitted several months ago.

“Yes, indeed President Joe Biden invited President Jokowi to visit Washington, DC, November 13th, 2023. This invitation was already delivered several months ago,” Ari told reporters on Thursday (9/11/2023).