CAIRO – Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Wednesday said that a joint decision by five Western countries to sanction two Israeli ministers is “welcomed.”
UNITED NATIONS- United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said on Monday that he was appalled by the killing and maiming of Palestinians at an aid distribution centre in Gaza.
He said in a statement that “I am appalled by reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza yesterday.
“It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.”
Guterres, therefore, called for an immediate and independent investigation, stressing the need to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid.
The unimpeded entry of assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs in Gaza must be restored immediately.
The UN must be allowed to work in safety and security under conditions of full respect for humanitarian principles, he said.
The UN chief once again called for ceasefire and the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages.
At least 31 people were killed and dozens of others seriously injured on Sunday morning when Israeli forces opened fire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Here the residents were gathering to receive aid, according to the Gaza-based health authority. (Xinhua/NAN)
Indonesia is prepared to temporarily host Palestinians wounded and displaced by the war in Gaza, President Prabowo Subianto announced on Wednesday as he began a diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Turkey.
Speaking ahead of his visits to Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, Prabowo said the first wave could include up to 1,000 evacuees. “We are ready to evacuate the wounded, the traumatised, the orphans,” he stated, adding that the individuals would remain in Indonesia only until they recover or until it is safe for them to return to Gaza.
President Prabowo revealed that he has directed Indonesia’s foreign minister to immediately engage with Palestinian authorities and other relevant parties to coordinate the evacuation process. “Indonesia’s commitment to supporting the safety of Palestinians and their independence has pushed our government to act more actively,” he said.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, has consistently advocated for a two-state solution and has delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza. The initiative marks a further step in Jakarta’s efforts to play a more prominent role in resolving the long-running conflict.
The war in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that, according to Palestinian authorities, has resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians.
Prabowo’s announcement comes two months after Indonesia’s foreign ministry reiterated its rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians, following a suggestion by former US President Donald Trump to permanently relocate Gaza’s residents.
Before taking office, Prabowo had also expressed Indonesia’s readiness to send peacekeeping forces to Gaza if required. Now in office, his latest move signals an intention to increase Indonesia’s diplomatic and humanitarian footprint in the region
