JAKARTA — The Palestinian people continue to fight for their basic rights against Israeli Zionist aggression. In another part of the world, in Indonesia, concern continues to grow as humanitarian activists, including M. Husein Gaza, call out for freedom from this occupation. This call for independence was echoed once again at the Philanthropy Building of Dompet Dhuafa in South Jakarta, on Friday (24/11/2023).
The event entitled “CollaborAction Meeting for Palestine” featured M. Husein Gaza, an Indonesian journalist in Palestine with diverse experiences. Also present to enrich insights on humanitarian actions in Palestine was Dr. Yeni Purnamasari, MKM, GM of the Health Division at Dompet Dhuafa. Perspectives on all things Palestine were provided by Shofwan Al Banna, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Indonesia.
Etika Setiawanti, Director of Resource Mobilization at Dompet Dhuafa, in her opening remarks, mentioned that by the last week of November 2023, Dompet Dhuafa continues to provide aid through three distribution schemes. Firstly, through local partners that have collaborated with Dompet Dhuafa since 2008, where Dompet Dhuafa has been delivering humanitarian interventions to our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Secondly, Dompet Dhuafa also channels aid through the Government of Indonesia, which has been done twice. Thirdly, through collaborative partners with the Indonesia Humanitarian Alliance (IHA).
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“Dompet Dhuafa will certainly continue to accompany our brothers and sisters in Palestine, of course with support and collaboration from all parties, whether donors or partners from all of you,” she said.
Regarding the types of aid provided, Dompet Dhuafa currently focuses on three types of aid: food, health, and sanitation. To ensure these aids are well-distributed, three members of the Dompet Dhuafa humanitarian team are already in Egypt.
Arif R. Haryono, Head of the Disaster Management Center (DMC) at Dompet Dhuafa, joined via live streaming from Egypt. He explained that the presence of the Dompet Dhuafa humanitarian team in Egypt aims to consolidate efforts to ensure that the aid entrusted by the Indonesian community reaches its destination as expected.
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“We have done this consolidation, and we ensure regarding these aids. We have prepared 12 trucks that will be distributed soon from Cairo to Gaza. The aid includes ready-to-eat food, medical kits including medicines and wheelchairs, and thirdly, sanitation and drinking water,” he stated during a teleconference session.
Meanwhile, Yeni disclosed that Dompet Dhuafa had started health programs in 2021, initially providing two ambulance units operating at the borders of the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, on 10 October 2023, one of Dompet Dhuafa’s ambulances was hit by a missile at the border while evacuating patients.
Therefore, this meeting among humanitarian institutions becomes a crucial moment for Indonesian citizens to help Palestine. Husein Gaza emphasized that humanitarian institutions should unite, not operate independently. What Zionist Israel fears most is the unification of global aid.
On this occasion, Husein Gaza shared the harrowing experiences faced by the Palestinian people, including his own 13-year observation of the atrocities committed by Israeli Zionists against Palestine. In his brief story, he mentioned that he and his family constantly maintain ablution in anticipation of missile attacks that could strike at any time, so if Allah decrees them to be martyred, they pass away in a state of purity.
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“I am pleased that this moment is one of unity. This is what I hope for, that humanitarian institutions do not act independently. What we need is not competition but collaboration,” said Husein Gaza.
Uniting through collaboration from all sectors must indeed be realized, as the current situation in Palestine constitutes a humanitarian crime and genocide.
From an international relations perspective, Shofwan Al Banna explained that Israel has indeed violated humanitarian law and international law. Thus, he urged the Indonesian community to voice their support for Palestine in many ways. Everyone can contribute to Palestine’s struggle for independence.
“Continue to speak out using any media and symbols about Palestine. All can be done in their respective fields,” Shofwan urged.
Today, the Dompet Dhuafa Kitchen continues to produce and distribute ready-to-eat meals. Dompet Dhuafa’s distribution of ready-to-eat food for refugees in Gaza City has reached a capacity of 1,000 portions per day. As of 20 November, the total benefit recipients reached 13,000 people. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)