INDONESIA STRESSES CLEAR INTERNATIONAL MANDATE FOR GAZA PEACE

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has underlined the need for every step towards peace in Gaza to carry strong international mandate and legitimacy.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting on Palestine in Istanbul on Monday, he reaffirmed Indonesia’s support for concrete peace initiatives, following the agreements reached at the Sharm El Sheikh summit on Oct 13.

“Indonesia is ready to play its part, including by deploying United Nations (UN)-mandated forces to monitor the situation on the ground, protect civilians, and assist in Gaza’s reconstruction,” he said.

Sugiono stressed that while practical steps towards peace are vital, they must be implemented under an official UN mandate or another legitimate mechanism.

“Clarity of mandate is essential to ensure both legitimacy and effective action,” he said, according to a ministry statement.

He also called for coordination among members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to ensure that the peace initiatives align with the goal of a two-state solution and the long-term interests of the Palestinian people.

The Istanbul meeting, chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, brought together foreign ministers from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Jordan, with state ministers from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the statement said.

Discussions focused on implementing the Gaza peace plan, strengthening ceasefire measures, and supporting reconstruction efforts.

-- BERNAMA