"Israel's accusation regarding a tunnel underneath the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza Strip is completely not true," head of the construction team, Farid Thalid, confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
The accusation was made following the surfacing of several photos claiming the existence of a tunnel underneath the Indonesian Hospital, Thalid remarked.
A release from Israel stated that the place referred to as the tunnel was a place suspected to support a Palestinian freedom fighter group's movement.
However, Thalid denied the accusation since it had no evidence. Moreover, the hospital, which was built from donations from all Indonesians, was established solely for the Palestinian humanitarian mission.
In addition, the Indonesian Hospital in the Gaza Strip is the only hope for Palestinians in northern Gaza for medical treatment.
According to the latest data by MER-C Indonesia, the hospital is currently treating five thousand Palestinian civilians in Gaza following Israel's bombardment on the overcrowded enclave, which is home to more than two million people, after the military wing of Hamas that rules Gaza attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Hence, Thalid, who is also a member of the Presidium of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) Indonesia, stated that his side will coordinate with Indonesia's Foreign Ministry to seek accountability from those who have disseminated the accusation.
"Whatever happens, the hospital must not be disrupted for humanitarian reasons," he emphasized.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi called on Israel to stop killing civilians and attacking civilian facilities, such as hospitals, mosques, and churches.
She also confirmed that the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza is the only active hospital to treat victims of the Israeli and Palestinian War.
The Indonesian Government has also delivered humanitarian aid for Gaza residents. The first batch of the aid packages containing food, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and logistics had departed on November 4.
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Translator: M Riezko Bima E P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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