Fadhli Arsil – Thousands of people from various segments of society crowded into the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Sunday July 27 to take part in a demonstration titled "Solidarity March with Global March to Gaza". The demonstration was held as a form of concern over the humanitarian crisis plaguing Gaza, Palestine.

The protesters from the Defend Palestine Indonesian People's Alliance and several youth groups held a long-march from the United States Embassy to the nearby HI traffic circle before finally ending in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Menteng.

Along the route, the protesters carried banners, posters and Indonesian and Palestinian flags. Some of the posters read (in English) "Indonesia for Gaza", "You Can't Take a Neutral Genocide" and "All Eyes on Rafah".

Egypt, as the only major gateway for aid into Gaza via the Rafah border, holds a crucial key. Political pressure and strategic calculations however have kept this humanitarian gateway tightly closed. Indonesia, with its long history of support for the Palestinian struggle, cannot simply be a concerned commentator. It must be an active diplomatic initiator.

The peaceful action in Jakarta this morning was more than just a demonstration. It was a reminder that the Indonesian public will not remain silent. Among the posters, banners and prayers were demands for the state to participate in the fight to open the Rafah border crossing and urging influential parties like Egypt and the US to end the blockade that has gripped Gaza.

The participants also brought symbols in the form of kitchen utensils such as pots, pans and spoons to represent the food crisis facing Gaza residents. The crowd banged the utensils together as a form of protest against Israel's prolonged blockade of Gaza.

The protest proceeded peacefully with some demonstrators mingling with residents exercising on Car Free Day (CFD). At the end of the event, the crowd observed a moment of silence for the martyrs of Gaza and sang the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya.

Community leaders attending the action called on Indonesia to take proactive steps in humanitarian diplomacy, particularly urging Egypt and the US to open aid access into Gaza.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Massa Aksi Solidaritas Palestina Desak Mesir Buka Perbatasan Rafah".]

Source: https://www.jakartamu.com/massa-aksi-solidaritas-palestina-desak-mesir-buka-perbatasan-rafah-19016