Indonesia condemns Israel’s deadly attack on UN refugee facility in Gaza

JAKARTA, Jan 25 (Online): Indonesia condemned on Thursday Israel’s deadly attacks on a UN facility sheltering displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza.
At least 12 people were killed and 75 others injured when Israeli forces shelled on Wednesday the Khan Younis Training Center, where thousands of people have sought shelter.

“Indonesia strongly condemns Israel’s attack on UN refugee facilities in Khan Younis, Gaza, that has resulted in the loss of lives,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“This attack adds to the list of violations of international law by Israel.”
Thomas White, the Gaza director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said the situation in Khan Younis underscored a “consistent failure” to uphold fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
The training center in Khan Younis is one of the largest UNRWA shelters. UN officials said the buildings are clearly marked and had their coordinates shared with Israeli authorities.

“Persistent attacks on civilian sites in Khan Younis are utterly unacceptable and must stop immediately. People are being killed and injured. As fighting intensifies around hospitals and shelters hosting the displaced, people are trapped inside and lifesaving operations are impeded,” White said in a statement.
Around 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced during the past three months of daily Israeli bombardment and many of them are sheltering inside or near UN facilities. At least 335 of them have been killed and over 1,100 others injured, according to the agency’s figures.

“Every measure must be taken to protect civilians. I remind all parties that protection of hospitals, clinics, medical personnel and UN premises is explicitly enshrined within international law,” White said.
Indonesia’s statement comes after its Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called on the UN Security Council to make no exceptions in upholding international law and demanded that Israel be held accountable if found responsible for atrocities in Gaza as “no nation is above the law.”

A staunch supporter of Palestine, Indonesia has been among its most vocal advocates in multiple international forums.
Marsudi is scheduled to speak at a public hearing held by the International Court of Justice next month, where she will be delivering legal arguments challenging Israel’s occupation of Palestine.