Thousands of Indonesians slam Israeli attacks on Gazans

Over 5,000 Indonesians rallied in the capital city on Sunday, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel in condemnation of its murderous attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The protesters also demanded that Israel immediately cease its military aggression towards the Palestinian people.

The mass rally comes hours after about 1,000 Indonesian Muslim students protested outside the US embassy in Jakarta against the Israeli regime's brutal attacks on the oppressed Palestinian people.

“We are showing our support for Palestinians who have suffered in the latest attack,” AFP quoted a protest coordinator as saying.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa earlier said the government was “following the situation on the Gaza Strip closely and attentively”.

“Indonesia urges all parties to refrain from further actions so as not to aggravate the situation which could result in casualties among innocent civilians,” Natalegawa said on Thursday.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched a series of new air and sea attacks, dubbed “Operation Pillar of Cloud” against Gazans.

The Israeli offensive has left scores injured and 70 Palestinians dead, including children that make up almost half of the Palestinian population in the besieged enclave.

The number of casualties is expected to rise as Israel prepares to launch a ground incursion into the besieged strip.

According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the go-ahead for the operation.

Gaza has been blockaded since 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.