ANKARA

Indonesia on Friday condemned Israel’s deadly attack on a Catholic church in the northern Gaza Strip, saying it shows a disregard for the sanctity of places of worship.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Jakarta condemns the attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, the only Catholic church in Gaza, which resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives.

"This reflects a complete disregard of International Humanitarian Law and humanity as well as the sanctity of places of worship. It further reflects Israel’s lack of commitment to fulfill its legal obligations as an Occupying Power, let alone to peace & stability in the region," it said.

"Religious sites, medical, and any other civilian facilities must never be targeted and are entitled to full protection under international law," the ministry added.

Indonesia urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take concrete steps to pressure Israel to cease all hostilities and return to talks towards a ceasefire and a two-state solution.

On Thursday, Israeli forces attacked the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, killing three people and injuring several others.

In its months-long deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has bombed several places of worship, including the Gaza Baptist Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, the oldest in the Gaza Strip and the third-oldest in the world.

The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, has been sheltering many displaced Christian and Muslim Palestinians since October 2023, when Israel’s offensive began

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 58,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid