Jakarta (ANTARA) - People under the banner of the Alliance of Indonesian Defenders of Palestine (ARI-BP) organized a peaceful demonstration in front of the Embassy of the United States in Central Jakarta to voice support for Palestine.

On Saturday morning, the masses thronged the embassy and demanded that Israel stop the genocide it is committing on Palestinian soil.

Coordinator of ARI-BP, Zaitun Rasmin, called on people and the international community to push Israeli occupation authorities to release the Palestinian people they currently imprison.

"We also demand that the genocide in Gaza be ended and the blockade put in the region be lifted permanently," he emphasized.

Rasmin then urged all member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to deploy military assistance to the Gaza Strip in order to save residents from Israel's atrocities.

During the strike, the demonstrators also condemned the assassination of Palestinian leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the resistance movement Hamas, who was killed in an Israel airstrike targeting his residence in Tehran, Iran, on July 31.

Related news: Indonesia condemns assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

To honor the deceased freedom fighter who once served as the Palestinian prime minister, the people offered an absentee funeral prayer.

On the occasion, people waved giant flags of Indonesia and Palestine while displaying various attributes, such as fans and posters depicting the Palestinian flag and Haniyeh's images. Most of the demonstrators were seen wearing white and black clothes.

Earlier, Central Jakarta Police Chief Grand Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo informed that a total of 1,309 joint personnel had been readied to maintain security and conduciveness at several points around the embassy during the mass demonstration.

The joint personnel comprise police and military officers and officials from the Jakarta provincial government.

Purnomo also spoke of having reminded all the dispatched personnel to prioritize persuasive measures, negotiations, and a humane approach while preserving security and order.

Related news: Indonesia's MoFA backs student encampments to support Palestine

Translator: Syaiful H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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