JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia joined with Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia to make a joint statement comprehensively condemning Israel’s escalation of tensions in the Palestinian territories this month.
The government has halted use of an AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine batch which was implicated in the death of an Indonesian man who died less than 24 hours after his vaccination from the consignment.
And police in Central Java question a 13 year-old who skippered a boat that capsized in the Kedung Ombo reservoir, resulting in the death of seven people.
This and more on Indonesia Highlights:
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Strongly Condemn Israeli Aggression Towards Palestine
Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have released a joint statement condemning Israeli aggression towards the Palestinians, as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas.
“We condemn in the strongest term[s] the repeated blatant violations and aggressions, carried out by the Israelis, targeting civilians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip,” Jokowi said of the joint statement in his Twitter account @jokowi.
“[Israel] has killed, injured and caused suffering to many [Palestinians], including women and children."
The three leaders also conveyed their concerns about the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the destruction of Palestinian structures there.
The three leaders deplored “the flagrant violations of international law…perpetrated by Israel…
through its inhumane, colonial and apartheid policies.” They also urged the United Nations to take swift action to decrease tensions in the area, and return to negotiations for a two-state solution.
The current tensions started on May 7, as Israeli police dispersed Palestinians carrying out tarawih prayers during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Israeli authorities were also evicting Palestinian residents of the East Jerusalem district of Sheikh Jarrah to make way for Jewish settlements.
Indonesia Halts Use of an AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Batch After Death of Vaccine Recipient
Indonesia will temporarily halt the distribution and use of a batch of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company, nearly two weeks after the set was implicated in the death of a vaccine recipient earlier this month.