Current:Home > MarketsProtesters march to US Embassy in Indonesia over Israeli airstrikes-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Protesters march to US Embassy in Indonesia over Israeli airstrikes
View Date:2024-12-23 17:05:17
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Protesters marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in Indonesia’s capital Friday to denounce the staunch American support for Israel and demand an end to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Similar protests also took place in front of the United Nations mission, a few kilometers (miles) from the embassy, and in the compound of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities estimated that about 1,000 people participated in the rallies across Jakarta following Friday prayers in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
A brutal incursion into southern Israel by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7 provoked Israel to declare war against the militant group that rules Gaza. The Israeli siege of and airstrikes on the Palestinian territory were the focus earlier this week of demonstrations at Egyptian universities, inside a congressional office building in Washington, outside the Israeli Embassy in Bogota and near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
Nearly two weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel, such protests continued as Israel prepared for an expected ground invasion of Gaza.
INDONESIA
The protesters who marched to the U.S. Embassy halted traffic along the way as they chanted “God is great,” and “Save Palestinians.”
Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs read “We are proud to support Palestine,” more than 100 noisy demonstrators gathered along a major street in Jakarta that runs outside the embassy.
“The U.S. actually know this war and violence occurred because Palestinians want free from Israel’s occupation, but they close their eyes and pretend to be deaf,” a speaker told the crowd, “We call for a two-state solution for Palestinians to end the war.”
Some protesters voiced their anger by burning portraits of U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
About 1,000 police office were deployed around the embassy, the nearby presidential palace and the U.N. mission.
Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and there is no Israeli Embassy in the country. It has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians.
President Joko Widodo strongly condemned a Tuesday night explosion at a Gaza City hospital filled with wounded Palestinians and residents seeking shelter. Widodo described it as an attack that violated international humanitarian law, although the cause of the blast at al-Ahli Hospital has not been determined.
U.S. assessments said the explosion was not caused by an Israeli airstrike, as the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza initially reported. Israel has presented video, audio and other evidence it says proves the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants, who denied responsibility.
The AP has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties.
“Now is the time for the world to stand together to build global solidarity to resolve the Palestinian issue fairly,” Widodo said in a televised statement from Saudi Arabia, where he was attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
SOUTH KOREA
In South Korea’s capital, dozens of protesters chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags and raised anti-Israel banners. (where in Seoul was the protest?)
“Free, Free Palestinians!” the protesters shouted, while holding banners that read “We stand with Gaza” or “Stop the massacre by Israel!”
“Please care about human lives. That’s all I am thinking about,” Elshafei Mohamed, 25, an Egyptian student in Seoul, said. “If we want to really help, we need to supply Gaza with humanitarian aids at once.”
More than 5,000 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since the war began, the majority women, children and older adults.
____
Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, video journalist Yong Ho Kim in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Video shows masked man’s apparent attempt to kidnap child in NYC; suspect arrested
- Large fire burns 2nd residential construction site in 3 days in Denver suburb
- Federal agency quashes Georgia’s plan to let pharmacies sell medical marijuana
- Terror suspects arrested in Europe, including several linked to Hamas who were allegedly plotting against Jews
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- Rudy Giuliani must pay $148 million to 2 Georgia election workers he defamed, jury decides
- These 18 Great Gifts Have Guaranteed Christmas Delivery & They're All on Sale
- Spoilers! All the best 'Wonka' Easter eggs from Roald Dahl's book and Gene Wilder's movie
- Kim Kardashian Says She's Raising Her and Kanye West's 4 Kids By Herself
- Agave is an increasingly popular substitute for honey and sugar. But is it healthy?
Ranking
- John Krasinski is People's Sexiest Man Alive. What that says about us.
- A review defends police action before the Maine mass shooting. Legal experts say questions persist
- Leon Edwards retains welterweight belt with unanimous decision over Colby Covington at UFC 296
- Michigan man almost threw away winning $2 million scratch-off ticket
- Why Cynthia Erivo Needed Prosthetic Ears for Wicked
- Who plays William, Kate, Diana and the queen in 'The Crown'? See Season 6, Part 2 cast
- The Hilarious Reason Ice-T Sits Out This Holiday Tradition With Wife Coco Austin and Daughter Chanel
- Activision Blizzard to pay $54 million to settle California state workplace discrimination claims
Recommendation
-
All the Ways Megan Fox Hinted at Her Pregnancy With Machine Gun Kelly
-
Federal agency quashes Georgia’s plan to let pharmacies sell medical marijuana
-
Maury Povich receives lifetime achievement award from wife Connie Chung at Daytime Emmys
-
Demi Lovato Is Engaged to Jutes: Look Back at Their Road to Romance
-
'Cowboy Carter' collaborators to be first country artists to perform at Rolling Loud
-
Body of 28-year-old hostage recovered in Gaza, Israel says
-
Top TV of 2023: AP’s selections include ‘Succession,’ ‘Jury Duty,’ ‘Shrinking,’ ‘Swarm’
-
Mayim Bialik is out as a 'Jeopardy!' host, leaving longtime champ Ken Jennings to solo