Indonesia Stresses importance of permanent ceasefire in Gaza

Jakarta (ANTARA) -  Indonesia has emphasized the importance of world countries to urge for a permanent ceasefire in order to defend justice and humanity for people in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (November 28), Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the humanitarian pause agreed between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group was not enough.

"What is needed is a permanent ceasefire, so that lives can be saved, and urgent humanitarian assistance can be provided," Marsudi noted in a virtual press statement from New York.

She called on all countries to increase humanitarian assistance for people in Gaza and ensure that the aid can be delivered smoothly.

"The world must help the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other humanitarian agencies to help the 1.7 million refugees in Gaza. I convey Indonesia's commitment to increase assistance, including our readiness to send hospital ships," she stated.

On Monday (November 27), Qatar, as the mediator between the two conflicting parties, announced that the four-day humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip, which ended on Tuesday (November 28), would be extended for two days.

During the pause, Hamas freed 50 Israeli women and children from a total of 240 hostages taken from Israel in the October 7 attack.

In exchange, Israel released 150 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, all of whom were women and juveniles.

During the pause, Israel temporarily halted its attack on the Gaza Strip. However, on Tuesday, Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, reported a clash in northern Gaza between its fighters and the Israeli army over violation of humanitarian pause by the army.