Medan, Indonesia – Indonesian medics held a joint prayer rally in Jakarta to call for a ceasefire and an end to the “genocide” in Gaza, where the Indonesian hospital in the north of the war-torn Palestinian enclave was forced to suspend operations.

The event, which took place in Jakarta and online, was attended by staff from Indonesia’s medical, midwifery, pharmacist and dentist associations. The event was organized by the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), which helped fund the construction Indonesian hospital in 2011.

It is “time to shout to the world: Stop the genocide,” the Indonesian Medical Association and MER-C said in a joint statement.

“Attacks on hospitals and medical personnel constitute violations of international law,” the statement said.

“A total of 22 hospitals and 49 health centers were forced to cease operations in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli arrogance,” the two groups said, calling on the Indonesian government to “engage in decisive diplomacy on the international stage to pressure Israel to abandon its policy.” “Stop operations.” Aggression in Gaza”.

Three Indonesian volunteers, Fikri Rofiul Haq, Reza Aldilla Kurniawan and Farid Zanjabil Al Ayubi, are currently stationed at the Indonesian hospital in Beit Lahia, Gaza.

The hospital’s director, Atef al-Kahlout, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the medical facility was no longer able to “provide any more services… we cannot offer beds to patients.”

Serious Israeli attacks were reported near the Indonesian hospital on Friday. Journalist Hussam Shabbat described the bombing the Indonesian hospital: “We lived in hell for 15 minutes.”

On Shabbat, reports said that although Israel had been bombing the area daily, Friday was the most difficult day since the war began.

Dr. Zecky Eko Triwahyudi, an orthopedic and traumatology doctor at Jakarta Cempaka Putih Islamic Hospital who attended the prayer event in the Indonesian capital, said it was “the least he could do” to support the people of Gaza.

“Health facilities that should not be attacked were attacked by Israeli forces last month. Excuses are made up without any basis to justify attacks on hospitals and health workers. “All hospitals in the Gaza Strip have become targets,” he said.

Triwahyudi said a humanitarian response was urgent as Gaza’s two largest and best-known trauma hospitals, Al-Shifa Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital, “have been paralyzed in recent days.”

The Indonesian hospital is the main trauma hospital in northern Gaza, providing primary care in that area, while Al-Shifa Hospital is in the center of the Gaza Strip, he said.

“Indonesia’s response could be more robust”

While Indonesian health workers have rallied behind the Indonesian hospital and the plight in the Gaza Strip, the Indonesian government faces a difficult diplomatic situation regarding the war and the fate of the hospital and its staff, while Jakarta stands with the United States – Israel’s staunchest ally – approaches.

Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country and has seen large demonstrations in support of Palestinians and calls for one Boycott of companies considered to be affiliated with Israel.

During a meeting earlier this week Indonesian President Joko Widodo put pressure on US President Joe Biden to do more to end the “atrocities” in Gaza and contribute to a ceasefire. The two then agreed to expand diplomatic relations into a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Ahmad Rizky M Umar, an associate lecturer at the University of Queensland, told Al Jazeera that although Indonesia has built and operated the Indonesian hospital in Gaza, it cannot currently protect it.

“Indonesia does not have sufficient diplomatic capacity to defend itself, especially from attacks by Israeli forces,” he said. “Indonesia’s response could be more forceful if it persuaded other countries to put pressure on Israel. In particular, to promote a ceasefire and a stronger humanitarian response,” he said.

Dr. Yogi Prabowo, also an orthopedic and traumatology doctor at Jakarta Cempaka Putih Islamic Hospital, said the Indonesian hospital’s cessation of operations would likely have fatal consequences for Palestinians, especially after al-Shifa also suspended its services.

“The Indonesian hospital was the last gasp of medical care in Gaza, but now it has stopped,” Prabowo said.