REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia, through its embassy in Amman, Jordan, is providing fast-breaking meals to Palestinian Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque's complex, Nico Adam of the Indonesian Embassy's Palestinian Function in Amman said in a statement on Monday. The idea of providing iftar, or fast-breaking, meals at the Al-Aqsa Mosque was initiated by Indonesian Ambassador in Jordan Andy Rachmianto on May 14 when Palestinian people, who took action on the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip, were battered by Israeli soldiers.

The protests also commemorated Nakhba Day, or Catastrophe Day, which marked the expulsion of at least 750 thousand Palestinians from their homes by the Israeli colonists since 1948 until now. "From Indonesia to Palestine" was the idea of Ambassador Rachmianto regarding the activity of providing fast-breaking meals to Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"The Indonesian Embassy in Amman wants to share a little happiness with our brothers in Palestine. Hopefully, this small contribution from the Indonesian people can be an oasis for hundreds of Palestinians breaking the fast at the Al-Aqsa Mosque," Ambassador Rachmianto noted.

Unlike the previous years, Israeli security forces in Ramadan have, this year, banned various forms of aid from Indonesia coming into Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, or Jerusalem, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. This is allegedly related to Indonesia's strong commitment in defending Palestine and the nation's stern stance in addressing the illegal actions of Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The distribution of fasting meals by the Indonesian Embassy in Amman was facilitated by a Palestinian activist from Al-Quds, who is also an alumnus of a capacity-building program for Palestinians organized by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

Fasting meals for Palestinians are prepared in a kitchen at the Indonesian Embassy in Amman. By "fooling" the Israeli security forces, eventually the meals could be brought into the Al-Aqsa and distributed to hundreds of Muslims, who break their fast in the yard of the mosque.

Some of the meals are also distributed to Muslims living around Al-Quds Ash-Sharif outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.

"There is no guideline for Israeli security forces to ban aid from Indonesia, as it depends only on their mood," the Palestinian activist stated, adding that the security forces had also raised objection to the logo of the Indonesian Embassy and the words "the Embassy of Indonesia" written on the packaging of the meals.

Israeli security forces had earlier also blocked some trucks carrying fast-breaking meals from Indonesians that were provided by the Nusantara Palestine Center in Gaza. Eventually, the trucks got into the Al-Aqsa Mosque after some people "deceived" the Israeli occupation security forces.

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