Indonesia, Pakistan call for end to Israeli aggression against Palestinians

Indonesia and Pakistan have voiced their support for Palestinians amid the escalation of tensions in the occupied territories, calling on the Israeli regime to immediately halt its brutal aggression against Palestinians.  

The two Asian countries made the statements on Sunday following the latest heavy exchange of fire, including a barrage of missiles and retaliatory strikes, by Palestinians against the Israeli regime forces in the south of the occupied territories.    

Indonesia, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, expressed concern about the situation in Gaza after the Indonesian-run hospital on the strip was damaged by an Israeli airstrike.

“Indonesia is deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel. Indonesia urges the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“The root of conflict, namely the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, must be resolved, in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the UN,” the statement said.

This came after the Indonesia Hospital, located in the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Lahia, was hit by Israeli forces on Saturday killing one of the facility’s local staff.

Indonesian nongovernmental organization Medical Emergency Rescue Committee, or MER-C, which funded the hospital, has vociferously condemned the attack.

“The direct attack on the Indonesia Hospital complex in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on Saturday appears to amplify how in the Israel-Palestine war, international humanitarian law is never under consideration for Israel,” the committee said in a statement.   

Pakistan said on Sunday that it was deeply concerned by the escalating hostility in the Middle East and the loss of innocent lives.

“We stand in solidarity with Palestinians and call for an immediate end to the violence and oppression by Israeli occupation forces,” Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"A viable and sovereign State of Palestine must be established on the basis of pre-1967 borders and UN resolutions. The international community needs to intervene to bring an end to the conflict, protect civilians, and work towards a lasting peace in the Middle East," he added.

Separately, Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi criticized Israel for suppressing the rights of Palestinians, urging the international community “to play its active role” to ease the tension between Israel and Palestine.

“Progress toward peace cannot materialize without condemnation of usurpation and brutalization of Palestinian rights and people by Israel,” Alvi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Continuous annexation of land, illegal settlements, disproportionate reactions & killings. The result is no hope & no progress towards peace. Time has come to move forward in line with UN resolutions. International community can play a big role today towards world peace," he added. 

'Operation al-Aqsa Storm': Palestinians capture Israeli base, kill soldiers

Palestinians have launched their biggest operation against Israel in years in a surprise offensive that combined fighters crossing the fence into Israeli occupied cities with a heavy barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched its large-scale operation, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel’s desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. 

More than 650 Israeli settlers and forces have died as a result of the large-scale operation — code-named Al-Aqsa Storm — and more than 2,150 others have sustained injuries.

Following the surprise attack, Israel declared "a state of war", launching retaliatory massive air strikes deep inside the coastal enclave on Sunday, killing scores and wounding hundreds of Palestinians.

Palestinian medical authorities say more than 370 people have been killed and above 2,200 injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip.

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