UN resolution intensifies global political pressure for Gaza ceasefire: Indonesian FM
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The large number of countries co-sponsoring the recently adopted United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza is a testament to intensified global political pressure on the issue, Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said.
The UN General Assembly passed the resolution entitled “Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations” during an emergency session in New York on Tuesday, with 153 countries voting in its favor.
“The resolution contains an urge for putting a ceasefire in place, protecting civilians, releasing all hostages, and ensuring compliance to international humanitarian law,” the minister informed at an online press conference on Thursday, which she joined from Geneva, Switzerland.
The resolution was proposed under the co-sponsorship of 104 countries, including Indonesia and all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Israel and the United States were among the 10 countries who voted against the resolution.
Minister Marsudi said that Indonesia played an active role in proposing the draft of the resolution by gathering support from countries in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.
She affirmed that Indonesia and several members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Qatar, and Nigeria — will continue to work at the forefront to mobilize countries to press for an immediate end to Israeli aggression in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.
“We have been facing tough challenges. Nevertheless, we will not give up and will continue putting efforts,” she said.
During a working visit to Geneva, the minister met with representatives from a number of UN bodies, such as the World Health Organization, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to discuss the aggression.
“They (the representatives) highly appreciated Indonesia’s active role in resolving issues in Gaza. All of them shared the same view on the importance of a ceasefire,” Marsudi said.
