Jakarta – Hundreds of people from Jakarta and the satellite cities of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) held a protest action to defend Palestine in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta on Sunday May 19.
The protesters, the majority of which wore black and white coloured clothing, had been packing part of the road on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan since 8 am.
In speeches the demonstrators demanded a ceasefire and called for Palestinian freedom and independence from the Zionists.
"Show our actions to our sisters and brothers in Palestine, speak out for the Palestinian people. We Indonesian citizens are struggling faithfully for Palestine", said one of the speakers through a loudspeaker on Sunday.
About a dozen or so police officers and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officials were seen standing guard in front of the US Embassy. Dozens of crowd dispersal vehicles were also parked along Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.
The demonstrators also plan to march together to the Egyptian Embassy on Jalan Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta after giving speeches in front of the US Embassy.
Rani (43), an employee from Bogor, West Java, had joined others gathering in front of the embassy since 7 am to take part in the defend Palestine action.
"I've been here since 7 am. We came together from Bogor with friends who often hold actions there", they told CNN Indonesia on Sunday.
Israel stormed the Gaza Strip following the cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7 last year, which according to Tel Aviv killed nearly 1,200 people.
The United Nations says the Israeli war in Gaza had caused 85 percent of the population in the region to flee due to a lack of food, clean water, and medicines.
In addition to this, according to the UN, more than 60 percent of the infrastructure in the region has been damaged or destroyed.
Israel has been accused of committing genocide at the International Court of Justice. A temporary decision in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop acts of genocide and take action to ensure that humanitarian assistance is given to civilians in Gaza.
At least 350 health workers have also been killed and 520 others injured in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched its attack on the area on October 7, 2023, according to the UN Special Reporter. (can/pua)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ratusan Massa Gelar Aksi Bela Palestina di Kedubes AS".]
