JAKARTA — In a press conference held on Tuesday (7/11/2023), Dompet Dhuafa firmly and resolutely expressed its support for Palestinian independence. Dompet Dhuafa also reaffirmed its commitment to establishing peace and justice in Gaza, Palestine.
The conflict between Palestine and Israel, ongoing since October 7, 2023, has captured global attention. To date, the death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza has exceeded 10,000 people.
Rahmad Riyadi, Chairman of the Dhuafa Republika Foundation, stated that this conflict transcends issues of religion, race, or nationality and is fundamentally a humanitarian crisis, verging on genocide. This is evidenced by the fact that the casualties in Palestine predominantly include children and women, who are civilians.
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“This can be stopped if each party recognizes that the majority of the victims are innocent people. They are indeed victims. It is extremely concerning, and if we do not halt or take special measures, this could lead to genocide,” said Rahmad.
“Dompet Dhuafa has also provided supplies for our team traveling there. Thus, Dompet Dhuafa has already dispatched about 1 ton of aid through the government, fulfilling what has been entrusted by the community,” added Rahmad Riyadi.
Previously, on Saturday (4/11/2023), Dompet Dhuafa dispatched humanitarian aid for Palestine from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta. According to Prima Hadi Putra, Director of Communication and Technology at Dompet Dhuafa, the initial aid from Dompet Dhuafa, in collaboration with various partners and the Indonesian Government, had arrived and would soon be distributed at the Rafah border.
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“Regarding the aid, thank God, it was dispatched last Saturday. By Sunday, the third aircraft had safely landed. The aid has been mobilized from El Arish to Rafah,” he said.
Dompet Dhuafa has consistently supported Palestinian independence, in line with its constitutional foundation that believes all forms of colonization must be eradicated from the world. Ahmad Shonhaji explained that since 2008, Dompet Dhuafa has never failed to participate in this humanitarian conflict.
“Until now, regarding Palestine and Gaza, Dompet Dhuafa has been actively involved in humanitarian actions in Gaza. At that time, many accesses were difficult to breach,” said Ahmad Shonhaji.
Previously, as Director of Social Services, Da’wah, and Culture at Dompet Dhuafa, Ahmad Shonhaji had traveled to Gaza, Palestine. He noted that entering Palestine itself posed many challenges.
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“At that time, many access routes were difficult to penetrate. Representing Dompet Dhuafa, I was able to enter through the Egyptian route, bringing the community’s trust, with programs like Food for Gaza, and establishing vegetable and fruit farms, water installations, wells, and rabbit farming. In this way, we endeavored to help rebuild the community’s economy in the post-war situation,” he added.
Dompet Dhuafa recognizes that it cannot act alone in its efforts to help Palestine; collaboration from many parties is essential. This reflects Dompet Dhuafa’s role as an institution trusted by the Indonesian community to support the people of Gaza.
“The government is the primary stakeholder, so we will consistently proceed to the second phase and beyond. Additionally, we collaborate with other NGOs in pooling aid. Dompet Dhuafa communicates these efforts through the Indonesian Humanitarian Alliance (IHA), our partnership with local organizations in Gaza, and our network based in Turkey but extending services to Gaza. We strive to ensure that these steps are fully coordinated,” said Prima Hadi Putra.
These are the measures Dompet Dhuafa is taking to support Palestinian Independence. Collaboration from all parties, support through prayers and funds, is crucial for assisting our brothers and sisters in Palestine. The support from the Indonesian community and the rest of the world will greatly aid the recovery efforts in Palestine. (Dompet Dhuafa/Anndini)