President Joko Widodo of Indonesia plans to discuss the ongoing Gaza conflict with President Joe Biden during his visit to Washington. The Indonesian leader will convey his country’s position on the situation to the United States president. This announcement was made by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal.
President Widodo’s meeting with President Biden will take place after he attends an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The summit aims to address the conflict between Israel and the Hamas group in Gaza, as well as its humanitarian consequences. The focus will be on discussing the latest developments in Gaza and coordinating efforts among OIC member states to address Israel’s actions in the region.
As a close ally and supporter of Israel, the United States’ position is considered influential in the Gaza conflict. Over the past month, the violence has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, including many civilians, including women and children. President Widodo has previously expressed his condemnation of the violence and attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties. Indonesia has also called for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid to reach the victims in Gaza.
Currently, there are six Indonesians in Gaza awaiting evacuation, including three members of the Muhammad Husein family. Additionally, three other Indonesians are volunteering at the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, choosing to stay and fulfill their humanitarian duties despite the risks.
President Widodo’s meeting with President Biden is expected to provide an opportunity for Indonesia to share the outcomes of the OIC summit and discuss potential joint actions to address the situation in Gaza. The international community will be closely watching this meeting, as it could potentially impact the trajectory of the conflict.
