Indonesia strongly denounces Israel’s deadly strike on UN refugee in Gaza

• The attack adds to Israel’s violations of international law.
• Thomas White highlights Israel’s failure to uphold humanitarian law.
• Daily Israeli bombardment has displaced around 1.7 million Palestinians in the past three months.

On Thursday, Indonesia condemned Israel’s deadly attacks on a UN facility sheltering displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza. Israeli forces shelled the Khan Younis Training Center on Wednesday, resulting in at least 12 deaths and 75 injuries among the thousands seeking shelter.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying, “Indonesia strongly condemns Israel’s attack on UN refugee facilities in Khan Younis, Gaza that has resulted in the loss of lives.”

“This attack adds to the list of violations of international law by Israel.”

The Gaza director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Thomas White, highlighted a “consistent failure” to uphold fundamental principles of international humanitarian law in the situation in Khan Younis.

UNRWA shelters:

The Khan Younis Training Center, one of the largest UNRWA shelters, marks its buildings, and UN officials shared their coordinates with Israeli authorities.

“Persistent attacks on civilian sites in Khan Younis are utterly unacceptable and must stop immediately. Killings and injuries are happening. As fighting intensifies around hospitals and shelters hosting the displaced, people are trapped inside, and they impede lifesaving operations,” White said in a statement.

Daily Israeli bombardment has displaced around 1.7 million Palestinians in the past three months, with many seeking shelter inside or near UN facilities. The agency’s figures report at least 335 fatalities and over 1,100 injuries among the displaced population.

“Every measure must be taken to protect civilians. I remind all parties that they must explicitly enshrine the protection of hospitals, clinics, medical personnel, and UN premises within international law,” White said.

After Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia called on the UN Security Council to uphold international law without exceptions and insisted on holding Israel accountable for any atrocities in Gaza, stating that “no nation is above the law,” Indonesia, a staunch supporter of Palestine, has been one of its most vocal advocates in various international forums.

Scheduled to speak at a public hearing conducted by the International Court of Justice next month, Marsudi will present legal arguments challenging Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

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