Hundreds of Thousands of Indonesian Rally in Support of Palestine

Jakarta, (Antara) - At least several hundred thousand people staged a peace rally at the National Monument in Jakarta on Sunday to show solidarity for Palestine and to condemn US move in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Equipped with Palestinian flags and dressed mostly in white, the crowd gathered at the National Monument's  square in Central Jakarta to meet the invitation from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which has called on all elements of interfaith communities and groups to participate in the mass gathering to show solidarity with Palestine.

"We are here to convey our support for Palestine as independent and sovereign state and East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine," Chairman of MUI Ma'ruf Amin said in his remark.

Some prominent figures of Muslim communities and government officials also joined the mass rally.

Marsudi Syuhud, executive board chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), called on Muslim communities accross the globe to join the struggle for Palestinian independence.

"We urge every Muslim to continue support for Palestinian people to achieve peaceful life, the one which guarantees the same rights as other nations'," Suhud said.

US President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital has triggered strong reaction across the world.

At least four people killed and hundreds others injured in clashes between protesters and Israeli forces in Palestine following Trump's statement.

The international community views that the US' move could impair any hope of reviving the peace process in Palestine.

Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan in his remark during the peace rally said that Indonesian constitution states that independence is the right of every nation.

Therefore, "defending Palestine is an obligation for all Indonesians for it also the national constitution's," Hasan said.

Following Trump's declaration, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, has firmly condemned the US' unilateral decision on Jerusalem.

Indonesia and Muslim leaders of the OIC member states have also called the United States to revoke its decision on Jerusalem and stated that US move as an act which constitutes a clear violation of international law, deals a heavy blow to international relations and runs counter to the spirit of the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.

The European Union has also rejected the call made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was asking allies to join the US in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini saw US move as a blow against the peace process.

Mogherini also said that there was full support from the EU for the status quo of Jerusalem.

Indonesia has been at the forefront in the struggle for the independence of Palestine through promoting the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Popular Islamic preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian and several other Muslim leaders in addressing the Palestinian issues.

The Indonesian Muslim figure, familiarly called A'a Gym also called on Muslim communities in the world to unite for supporting Palestine.

"I hope Indonesia could be the leader in the struggle for Palestine," Gymnastiar said during the rally.

The peace rally was also attended by representatives of Islamic organizations such as ICMI, FPI, and NU, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, and West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan.(*)