Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza was built by Indonesians to provide humanitarian aid and cater to the medical needs of Palestinians.

"The Indonesia hospital is now fully managed by the Palestinian authority in Gaza, although from time to time, there are always Indonesian volunteers to help," Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, stated via a text message received here on Tuesday.

Iqbal made this statement in response to the Israeli accusation about the existence of a tunnel underneath the medical facility, which they said was used by Hamas to launch its attacks.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari mentioned that “Hamas systematically built the Indonesian Hospital to disguise its underground terror infrastructure."

He also presented call recordings among Hamas officials explaining their use of fuel supplies belonging to the Indonesia Hospital to carry out attacks.

On the other hand, Iqbal explained that the Indonesia Hospital is one of the few health facilities still functioning in Gaza amid the number of victims of Israeli attacks that continue to rise every day.

"The hospital is now treating patients far beyond capacity," he noted.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has consistently condemned and called for an immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and humanitarian facilities in Gaza, including hospitals and ambulances.

The call for protection of the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza is also related to the three Indonesian volunteers, who chose to stay and continue their humanitarian work in the Israeli-Hamas conflict area.

"Three Indonesian volunteers at the Indonesia Hospital are in good condition and chose not to participate in the evacuation assisted by the government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to communicate with them to monitor their condition," Iqbal remarked.

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Translator: Yashinta P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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