"The Indonesia Hospital in Gaza is a facility built by the Indonesian people entirely for humanitarian purposes, and to serve the medical needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza," he said in a press statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/11/2023).
Iqbal said that the Indonesia Hospital is now managed by the Palestinian authority in Gaza. However, from time to time there are always Indonesian volunteers who help the hospital, which is currently over capacity. He added that three Indonesian volunteers currently in the hospital deliberately did not evacuate, yet communication continues.
"Regarding three Indonesian citizens volunteering at the Indonesia Hospital, they are in good condition and consciously chose not to be evacuated by the government. Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to communicate with the three citizens to monitor their condition," he continued.
Iqbal emphasized that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, had from the start condemned the attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals. Retno, he continued, also called for an immediate end to the attacks, which she called an "indiscriminate" act.
"From the start, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs has consistently condemned and called for an immediate end to indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, especially humanitarian facilities in Gaza, including hospitals and ambulances," he said.