VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI, Jakarta - The United Nations Security Council was due to vote on Monday on rival draft resolutions on Israel and Gaza that focus largely on the humanitarian situation, but it was unclear whether either stood a chance of being adopted.

The draft texts have been submitted by Russia and Brazil. A resolution needs at least nine of the 15 members' votes to pass and no vetoes by Britain, China, France, Russia or the United States, the council's five permanent members.

The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel in any action by the Security Council. A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations declined to comment when asked about the impending votes.

Russia's draft calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, while the Brazilian draft calls for humanitarian pauses to allow aid access. Both condemn violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism and call for the release of hostages.

The Brazilian draft condemns the Palestinian militant Hamas for its attacks on Israel, while the Russian draft does not name Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Without naming Israel, the Brazilian text also calls for the rescinding of the Israeli order for civilians and U.N. staff in northern Gaza Strip to relocate to southern Gaza.

"We are convinced that our draft better meets the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza and doesn't contain political elements that could divide members of the UNSC and affect its role in the settlement of the crisis," Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas - which controls the Gaza Strip - after its fighters stormed Israeli towns, killed 1,300 people and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's 75-year-old history.

Israel is preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza while subjecting the strip to the most intense bombardment ever, putting the enclave under total siege. Gaza authorities say at least 2,750 people have been killed.

Israeli forces kept up their bombardment of Gaza on Monday after diplomatic efforts to arrange a ceasefire to allow foreign passport holders to leave and aid to be brought into the besieged Palestinian enclave failed. (Reuters)

VOI, Jakarta - The Palestinian Authority's official news agency published comments on Sunday by President Mahmoud Abbas that criticized Hamas over its actions but later removed reference to the militant group without providing an explanation.

The comments, published by WAFA on its website, came during a phone call between Abbas and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The two discussed Israel's bombardment of Gaza following Hamas' deadly rampage through Israeli cities.

The original WAFA report on Abbas' call included the line: "The president also stressed that Hamas' policies and actions do not represent the Palestinian people, and the policies, programs and decisions of the (Palestine Liberation Organization) represent the Palestinian people as their sole legitimate representative."

Several hours later, the phrase was adjusted to read: "The president also stressed that the policies, programs, and decisions of the PLO represent the Palestinian people as their sole legitimate representative, and not the policies of any other organization."

It was not immediately clear why the reference to Hamas was removed. There was no immediate comment by Abbas' office or by WAFA. Hamas had no immediate comment.

Abbas' Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He has long been opposed to Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007 and ousted Fatah party forces loyal to Abbas. Years of reconciliation talks between the rivals have failed to reach a breakthrough.

Abbas also heads the PLO, the umbrella group that represented the Palestinians in past U.S.-sponsored peace talks with Israel.

During his call with Maduro, Abbas "affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees," the WAFA report said. (Reuters)

VOI, Jakarta - As Israeli air strikes pounded the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive, the enclave's residents were getting more desperate by the hour as water runs out, garbage piles up, explosions flatten homes and hospitals struggle to cope.

Desperate to get some drinking water, some people began digging wells in areas adjacent to the sea or were relying on salty tap water from Gaza's only aquifer, which is contaminated with sewage and seawater.

Two residents in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, volunteered to fill plastic containers with water to distribute among displaced families.

Some residents prayed for an end to the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

They said overnight air strikes were the heaviest in nine days of conflict. Many houses were flattened. Gaza authorities said at least 2,750 people, mostly civilians and among them more than 700 children, had been killed and nearly 10,000 wounded. A further 1,000 people were missing, believed to be under rubble.

Israel has imposed a full blockade as it prepares a ground assault in Gaza. Israeli troops and tanks are massed on the border.

It has vowed to annihilate Hamas, which rules the enclave, in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters in Israeli towns nine days ago in which its militants killed 1,300 civilians including children and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in the country's history. Israel's military said at least 291 soldiers have been killed.

Medical and emergency services, and some graphic mobile phone footage, said atrocities were committed in the overrun towns and kibbutzes.

Hamas has continued to fire rockets at Israel since its cross-border assault. On Monday, rocket-warning sirens sounded in several towns in southern Israel, the Israeli military said.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to try to get aid into the enclave, via Egypt.

"Gaza is running out of water and electricity. In fact, Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity," said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.

Hamas said on Monday that Israel had not resumed water supplies to Gaza despite pledging to do so. An Israeli official said some water was being provided to an area in the south of the enclave.

Amid international calls for a ceasefire to allow aid in, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said there would be no halt to the siege without freedom for Israeli hostages. The Israeli military said on Monday 199 people were confirmed held hostage in Gaza.

FEARS OF HEALTH CRISIS

Gaza is one of the most crowded places on earth, and for now there is no way out. Egypt, which also has a border with the enclave, has so far resisted calls to open it to fleeing residents.

"Because of the large number of people inside the camp, there's no water. So I thought I would volunteer, come with a rickshaw and carry the water from the far away areas, the dangerous areas," said Mohammad Saqr.

"Now, we're filling in salt water, I'm ready to drink from the salt water - what else can we do?" Saqr said.

Even before the latest conflict erupted and Israel cut electricity and fresh water supplies to Gaza, 90 percent of the water was undrinkable, according to the Palestinian Water Authority.

The territory's only aquifer is contaminated by sewage, chemicals and seawater and neighbourhood desalination facilities and their public taps are a lifesaver for some of Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

Even the 10% of the aquifer's water deemed safe to drink is often mixed with poor-quality water during distribution, making it good only for washing.

Many families living in Gaza have opted to drill private wells drawing from water deep underground, and a small number who can afford it tend to buy mineral water. Others buy cheaper filtered treated water from water-trucks that tour the streets.

Garbage is also piling up on the streets and inside shelters for the displaced, raising fears of a health crisis.

"If the garbage continues to pile up it will cause diseases and pandemics," said Mohammad Hadhoud, a cleaning worker from Khan Younis.

Doctors have been scrambling to help a rising number of patients, including children injured in the air strikes, in overcrowded hospitals that are running short on medicines and fuel due to the blockade. Only the most acute cases are getting surgery because there are not enough resources, doctors say. (reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia and the Netherlands strengthened cooperation in the maritime sector through the 5th Bilateral Maritime Forum (BMF) on Monday.

The forum focused on three issues: sustainable port development and renewable maritime energy, sustainable shipbuilding, and maritime education, Deputy for the Coordination of Maritime Sovereignty and Energy at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, informed at the RI-Netherlands BMF here.

"The BMF aims to strengthen mutual benefits for both countries by discussing three priority sectors," he said.

He added that the Indonesian government is highly interested in advancing sustainable port infrastructure and developing renewable energy sources such as tidal, hydrogen, and wind power.

"Our goals in the port development include realizing world-class transportation, improving the logistics ecosystem and the supply chain, while protecting the environment, so that infrastructure and technology development go hand in hand," he said.

According to Mahardi, Indonesia's shipbuilding cooperation with the Netherlands has extraordinary potential, considering Indonesia's skilled workforce in technology.

"Therefore, collaboration like this can enhance our flagship shipbuilding industry," he added.

The partnership also presents investment opportunities for both countries, he added.

Development in the shipbuilding industry can boost economic growth in the Indonesian regions that are underserved in terms of maritime infrastructure, he said.

"Our collaboration has resulted in Mini LNG vessels, Draggers, Navy warships, and many more. With the appropriate funding, we are ready to strengthen our collaboration," he said.

He stressed that maritime education is no less important for advancing technology and sustainable energy goals.

Indonesia has carried out collaborative programs in maritime education, such as student exchanges, scholarships, and internships, he said.

Furthermore, Mahardi invited the Netherlands to invest in concrete projects in Indonesia's maritime sector, which is expected to generate mutually beneficial economic benefits. (Antaranews)