Hundreds of thousands rally in Indonesia to demand ceasefire in Gaza

Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered in central Jakarta on Sunday to protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza launched following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Protesters were dressed in white and donned the red, white and green kaffiyeh scarf - a symbol of Palestinian solidarity - as they rallied around the main stage in Jakarta's National Monument square across from the presidential palace.

Indonesian senior government officials including House Speaker Puan Maharani, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, as well as presidential candidate Anies Baswedan were among the attendees sitting on the main stage.

Marsudi in her speech reiterated Indonesia's support for the Palestinian struggle for independence.

"On behalf of the Indonesian government, we would like to reaffirm Indonesia's support for the Palestinian people's struggle," she said.

The event was organized by pro-Palestinian groups who called themselves the Alliance of Indonesian People Defending Palestine and supported by the Indonesia Ulema Council, who called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the international community to probe Israeli's attacks in Gaza. They also called for a boycott of Israeli products and services or those affiliated with Israeli interests.

On Saturday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo dispatched 51.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza in what he said was a gesture of Indonesia's solidarity with Gaza and the Indonesian people's concern for humanity.

"The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza is unacceptable and must be stopped as soon as possible," he said.