Insya Allah (God willing), the ambulance will be helpful for the victims of the Zionist state's brutal attacks on PalestineBanda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Acehnese people in Bireuen District, Aceh Province, managed to accrue Rp1.8 billion in public funds by conducting a fundraising campaign for Palestine.
The funds will be channeled for purchasing an ambulance for Palestinians impacted by the Israeli brutality, Bireuen Coordinator for Palestine Anwar Ebtadi stated.
"Insya Allah (God willing), the ambulance will be helpful for the victims of the Zionist state's brutal attacks on Palestine," Ebtadi noted here on Tuesday.
The fundraising campaign was initiated by activists of the Solidarity Movement for Palestine, a group formed by various community-based as well as youth and student organizations in Bireuen District.
Among them are members of the Indonesian Volunteer Community (MRI), Association of Village Heads, Al-Muslim Islamic Institute (IAI), and the National Committee of Indonesian Youth (KNPI).
Ebtadi remarked that almost 200 people, including 58 children and 34 women, were killed in air and ground attacks launched by Israeli soldiers on the besieged Gaza Strip over the last week.
The donated funds will be utilized for procuring an ambulance equipped with pre-hospital care and service facilities through the Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT), a non-governmental organization that focuses on social work and humanitarian relief.
People keen on infaq, or voluntary charity, and sadaqah, or alms, to purchase the ambulance for Palestinians can transfer the money to Bireuen for Palestine's virtual account of BNI Syariah 8660291021050072.
The Israel-Palestine conflict again grabbed international headlines after Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the final days of the holy month of Ramadhan and launched airstrikes on Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, prior to Israel's bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli security personnel attacked worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque with "rubber-coated steel rounds, stun grenades, and tear gas."
The raid was triggered by what Al Jazeera described as the Jewish government's plans to "forcefully expel Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlers".
Indonesian President Joko Widodo vociferously denounced the use of force against Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered the third-holiest site by Muslims after Mecca and Medina, and the forced eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.
"The forced evictions of Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, and the use of force against Palestinian civilians at Al-Aqsa Mosque should not be ignored. Indonesia condemns these actions," Widodo noted on his Twitter account @jokowi recently.
The head of state highlighted that Indonesia had urged the UN Security Council to act swiftly on repeated violations committed by Israel.
Indonesia will continue to side with the Palestinian people in their struggle for independence, the president reiterated.
Jakarta's political stance on the Palestinian issue has remained unchanged since the era of President Soekarno.
In 1962, the founding father of Indonesia made a statement that has continued to guide Indonesia’s foreign policy on Palestinian issues.
"As long as the freedom of Palestine is yet to be returned to the Palestinians, Indonesia will forever stand in defiance against the occupation by Israel," Soekarno stated.
Related news: International presence paramount to ending Israeli aggression
Related news: Hundreds of joint personnel safeguard perimeter around US Embassy
Close
EDITED BY INE
Translator: R.Fajri, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
