let us pray for an immediate freedom for Palestinians from the colonial state of IsraelMartapura, S Sumatra (ANTARA) - Civil servants at the Religious Affairs Office of Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Timur District in South Sumatra Province have joined an Indonesian humanitarian mission for Palestine by collecting Rp118,414,500 in donations.
"I am really touched by the civil servants' care and solidarity for Palestine," Head of the Ogan Komering Ulu Timur Religious Affairs Office Ishak Putih said here Saturday.
The charity funds had been transferred to the Solidarity For Palestine bank account of Indonesia's Religious Affairs Ministry, he said while urging the people at large to keep helping the People of Palestine.
"Also, let us pray for an immediate freedom for Palestinians from the colonial state of Israel," he added.
Fresh armed conflict erupted between Palestine and Israel following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel early in the morning on October 7.
Prior to the assault by Palestinian liberation fighters, Israel had continued its closure of Gaza crossings.
Palestine's news agency WAFA reported on September 25 that the Israeli closure of Gaza crossings had worsened the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.
Related news: Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia call for Gaza ceasefire
According to WAFA, the Palestinians had already suffered from the severe impacts of "more than 17 years of tight Israeli land, sea, and air blockades."
Al Jazeera quoted Hamas, which governs Gaza, as stating that its assault on Israel was "a response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence."
In response to the unprecedented surprise attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and, according to Al Jazeera, pledged that Israeli forces would "turn all Hamas hideouts into rubble."
Since the war began, the ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than two million people, has resulted in the deaths of more than eleven thousand Palestinian civilians, and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
In response to the war, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to remain united and stand at the forefront of seeking solution to the Gaza crisis.
Widodo also reiterated his message of justice and humanity for the People of Palestine when speaking at the 30th APEC Summit on November 17. He called on the APEC leaders to end the war, voice ceasefire, and ensure an uninterrupted aid delivery in Gaza.
Related news: President heads to Indonesia after concluding visits to US, Saudi
Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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