JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Protesters in Indonesia’s capital marched from multiple mosques to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy on Friday to denounce America’s unwavering support for Israel and demand an immediate end to the Israeli airstrikes targeting the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations also took place near the United Nations mission and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jakarta witnessed around 1,000 people joining these rallies after Friday prayers in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
The recent brutal attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel on October 7 provoked Israel to declare war against the militant group ruling Gaza. As a result, Israel launched a siege and series of airstrikes on the Palestinian territory. These events led to earlier demonstrations in Egyptian universities, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota, in a congressional office building in Washington, and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
Even nearly two weeks after the Hamas attack, protests continue as Israel prepares for an anticipated ground invasion of Gaza.
INDONESIA
The protesters marching to the U.S. Embassy disrupted traffic while chanting “God is great” and “Save Palestinians.” More than a hundred demonstrators, waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags, congregated on a major street in Jakarta, adjacent to the embassy. Signs that read “We are proud to support Palestine” were also visible.
A speaker addressing the crowd criticized the United States for ignoring the war and violence resulting from Palestinians seeking freedom from Israel’s occupation. They called for a two-state solution to end the conflict.
Some protesters expressed their anger by burning portraits of U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
About 1,000 police officers were deployed around the embassy, the nearby presidential palace, and the U.N. mission.
Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel, and there is no Israeli Embassy in the country. However, Indonesia has consistently supported the Palestinians.
strongly condemned the explosion at Gaza City hospital on Tuesday night, where wounded Palestinians and locals seeking shelter were present. The cause of the blast at al-Ahli Hospital is yet to be determined. President Widodo described it as an attack violating international humanitarian law.
U.S. assessments indicate that the explosion was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as initially claimed by the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. Israel has provided video, audio, and other evidence suggesting that the blast resulted from a misfired rocket by Palestinian militants, who denied any responsibility.
The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence presented by the involved parties.
“Now is the time for the world to come together and build global solidarity to fairly resolve the Palestinian issue,” said President Widodo during a televised statement from Saudi Arabia, where he attended the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
SOUTH KOREA
Dozens of protesters in Seoul, South Korea chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags, and displayed anti-Israel banners. They called for freedom for Palestine and an end to the massacres by Israel.
“Please prioritize human lives. That’s all I am thinking about,” said Elshafei Mohamed, a 25-year-old Egyptian student in Seoul. He further emphasized the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Since the beginning of the war, over 5,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza and Israel, with the majority being women, children, and the elderly.
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Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, and video journalist Yong Ho Kim in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
