JAKARTA: Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza is not self-defense, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a press briefing on Wednesday, after urging the UN to reject “double standards” on human rights.
Indonesia’s top diplomat was leading a delegation in Geneva and spoke about Palestine in a series of events commemorating the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as international pressure builds on Israel to end its months-long assault on Gaza that has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians.
“As we observe the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are actually witnessing serious human rights violations happening in Palestine, especially in Gaza,” Marsudi said.
“Israel’s acts of killing civilians, damaging hospitals, places of worship and refugee camps, while suppressing Palestine’s basic rights are not self-defense. These acts cannot be justified and are clear violations of international humanitarian law.”
Marsudi said she raised these points during a roundtable event on human rights, alongside other panelists that included Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Palestine’s Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki.
The 193-member UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, after a similar resolution failed at the UN Security Council following the US’ veto on the proposal last week.
The Security Council’s failure to adopt the resolution reflected “the failure of an outdated multilateral system,” Marsudi said.
“I call on countries to reject double standards in upholding human rights. Double standards are the biggest problem in upholding human rights. Countries that have often dictated (to) us about human rights are now parties allowing Israel to violate human rights.”
Indonesian officials have been rallying international support since the latest escalation of Israeli violence, while thousands of people have participated in solidarity marches across the Asian nation since October.
Indonesia’s support for Palestine reflects a decades-long stance, as its people and government see Palestinian statehood as mandated by the nation’s constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism.
