Indonesia hopes humanitarian pause in Gaza leads to permanent end to conflict

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Hailing the new humanitarian pause and prisoner swap between Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Israel, Indonesia Wednesday said it hoped the deal will lead to a permanent end to the conflict.

“Indonesia has consistently called for a sustainable cessation of violence in order to allow for a wide access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including aid from the government and people of Indonesia,” said the Foreign Ministry of the Southeast Asian nation, which also has the world’s largest Muslim population.

Israel and Hamas announced the deal early Wednesday, with the pause to start within the next 24 hours, according to the Gulf nation of Qatar, which helped broker the deal.

It said the humanitarian pause agreement is “expected to open the door for a permanent end to the conflict and the start of serious discussions towards a comprehensive and just peace.”

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry also said it will use the humanitarian pause to try to locate three Indonesian citizens working at the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, “who until now have been unable to be directly contacted.”

Jakarta also hailed the mediation efforts of Qatar, which led to announcement of the deal.

Under the agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, Israeli media reported.

The deal also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including badly needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip.

The agreement also allows for an extension of the pause and the potential release of more children and women held by the two sides.

Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following its cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack, killing more than 14,128 Palestinians, including 5,840 children and 3,920 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

​​​​​​​The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.​​​​​​​