JAKARTA — In the middle of Ramadan 1445 AH, Dompet Dhuafa is once again raising its voice for the freedom of Palestine. In this holy month, our brothers and sisters in Palestine are still struggling against the cruel onslaught of the Zionist army. The attacks continue to bring suffering to our brothers and sisters in Palestine, who are even reportedly starving and threatening their lives.
The moment of #RamadanMendekatkan also became a forum for the Indonesian people who care about the struggle for the freedom of the land of the prophets. On Tuesday (26/3/2024), a meeting in Al Quds Indonesia was held at Cinepolis, Senayan Park, South Jakarta. In her speech that afternoon, Etika Setiawanti, Secretary of Dompet Dhuafa, explained that Dompet Dhuafa was trying to bring together sectors. Because, she explained, the suffering of brothers and sisters in Gaza has not ended.
‘Actually, I don’t have the heart to mention it. Not long ago I heard that there were pregnant women who were subjected to sexual violence by the Zionists. This is barbaric and inhumane. The call for action tonight is so that we continue to ‘make noise’ about Palestine. We, Dompet Dhuafa, as a zakat institution and humanitarian agency, always provide empowerment programmes and services. Of course, in the month of Ramadan, we do not forget Palestine,’ said Etika in her speech.
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‘Thank you to all of you who continue to accompany Dompet Dhuafa in every kindness activity. Since the attack last year, mashaallah, we have continued to receive waves of kindness from donors for Palestine. Our brothers and sisters there are still struggling against unending suffering. We at Dompet Dhuafa continue to invite influencers, bloggers, and partners to continue voicing the freedom of Palestine,’ concluded Etika.
The spirit of togetherness will certainly strengthen the movement of kindness. Just like the movement of kindness and concern for Palestine that was called for at the Al Quds Indonesia event entitled ‘Fight for the Independence of the Land of the Prophets’. The spirit of togetherness was filled with Palestinian Talks and the screening of a collaborative video clip project by Indonesian artists, musicians and influencers. Among them were Bella Fawzi, Uztazah Tere, Eka Annash (The Brandals), Lala Karmela, Fadly (Padi Reborn), Melanie Subono, Chiki Fawzi, Endah Widiastuti and many more, together with the organisation ‘Friends of Palestine’ in ‘Tanah Para Nabi’ (Anthem for Palestine). The event is one of the ways to raise awareness for Palestine this Ramadan.
‘We always regularly attend Ramadan for Palestine. Alhamdulillah, the people of Indonesia are very enthusiastic in supporting Dompet Dhuafa’s programmes for Palestine. There are Ramadan parcels, iftar packages, and various supplies for the people of Palestine. Influencers and the public can send their donations through our donation outlets in several shopping centres, online donations, or through the Dompet Dhuafa application,’ said Rina Fatimah, Chairperson of Ramadan 1445 H Dompet Dhuafa.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa and Civil Society Coalition Promote Palestinian Freedom
Seeing the current condition of Palestine, aid is urgently needed. Although in practice, distributing aid to Gaza, Palestine is not easy. The tight security from Israel exacerbates the suffering of the Palestinians. Representing Dompet Dhuafa, Arif Rahmadi Haryono as the Head of Dompet Dhuafa’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), also explained his experience in escorting aid from Indonesia to Palestine.
‘We must understand that this is the worst conflict. If we compare it to child casualties, this is only the fifth month, but it has matched the world’s child casualties for five years. When I went to the Marawi War in Southern Mindanao, we could still provide access to aid. But the current situation in Gaza is very limited. So, I am not afraid to call this genocide, mass or slow killing of the Palestinian people,’ said Arif.
‘If I may say so, the access to aid there is very, very limited. So, to send aid from Cairo to Rafah Gate takes days. Because there are many military checkpoints at Rafah Gate, it can even take 24 days for the aid to arrive. So this is one of the crucial factors in the obstruction of aid, because the Israeli military selects and controls access to aid. If asked what kind of aid can we give to Palestine? Whatever is the best that we can give, we must give it to our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Because it is not they who need us, but we who need them. On the day of judgement, they will testify against us (for our efforts to help the Palestinians),’ he explained.
Statements of support for Palestine from the world continue to grow. The change in paradigm and perspective continues to urge Israel and western countries to stop the humanitarian conflict. As expressed by CJ Werlemen, an Australian journalist who often covers conflict areas.
‘I’m not Palestinian, but I was very surprised by this event. The good news is that there is an attitude change in Western culture or perspective. Many people are aware of this conflict. Although not all of them have the courage to voice their opposition to Israel, which has the support of Western countries. In the past, talking about Palestine was a religious conflict, but now the world sees the Palestinian conflict as a human rights violation and humanitarian conflict. This includes 63 per cent of the world supporting Palestinian independence and only 20 per cent rejecting it, while the rest abstain. Even rallies in support of Palestine in Western countries have been attended by hundreds of thousands of people. But the bad news is that Israel continues to kill, take land, and co-operate with the West so that Palestinians who are pushed out of their own place cannot return to their land. So, are these actions still enough time to change the policies of Western countries towards Gaza, Palestine, and when the world changes, will there still be Palestine?’ said CJ Werleman.
Werleman’s statement is further strengthened by the story of one of the Palestinians about the conditions there from year to year. Adham Abu Selmiya, one of Gaza’s social media influencers, recounted the conflict that has killed his family and relatives over the years.
‘Why is Israel fighting the truth and journalists? I answer with the story of my own family experience. In 2006, Israel attacked my uncle’s house at three in the morning, and seven of his children were martyred. But there was good news, because two of his children survived. In 2021, Israel killed one of the surviving children. In 2023, Israel killed my wife and children. So what happened was not only on 7 October 2023, but why did Israel colonise us?’ he admitted.
‘My tribe of origin is a small tribe, there are only a few of us left. Israel has killed 25 of my family. When we have internet, we try to contact my mum there, and she always says ‘patience’ to me. We may all be able to send our mums a Ramadan message here, but I can’t do that to my mum. Why 7 October? Imagine there were 1.3 million people in this room last year, now there are only 2 million people this year. Imagine this space is Gaza, Israel blockades it with no food, no jobs, no basic necessities coming in, no electricity, only 4 hours of electricity every day. The arrival of water aid is celebrated. But WHO says that 80 per cent of the water is not fit for consumption,’ he explained.
‘Before 7 October, Israel had destroyed Palestine. Israel wants Gaza to cease to exist in the world. In this war, 165 journalists have been killed and 35 hospitals have been attacked, including the head of As-Sifa Hospital in Gaza, who happens to be my uncle. But behind this sadness, there is a million hopes in Gaza. Because it is filled with educated people and memorisers of the Qur’an. Thank you Indonesia for continuing to support us,’ said Adham Abu Selmiya, closing the Palestinian Talks that evening.
For information, from the situation report data issued by DMC Dompet Dhuafa, the current urgent needs of Gazans include food packages, clean water, hygiene kits, solar energy, warm clothes, fuel, medicines, tents and ambulances. One of the few remaining YNRWA distribution centres in Gaza was hit by an Israeli attack. The poor condition of services in Gaza hampers the treatment of thousands of chronic patients.
Dompet Dhuafa in its efforts, rolled out medicines, medical equipment and supplies, hospital generator fuel, ready-to-eat food distribution, 3,000 litres of fuel for Kamal Adwan Hospital, two units of ambulance service assistance in South Gaza, 200 units of shelter assistance in Rafah refugee camp, and 5,000 ready-to-eat food distribution in Der Al Balah, Rafah.
Yes, Gaza still needs all of us. Whatever our efforts, prayers, donations, and assistance, it means a lot to those in Gaza, Palestine. Let us come together for them through Dompet Dhuafa’s Ramadan programmes for Palestine. Your donation can be channeled through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donasi/jagapalestina. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text & Photo: Taufan YN & Dhika Prabowo
Editor: Dhika Prabowo