Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo called on the Indonesian people here on Thursday to pray for Palestine.

"I appeal to all people in Indonesia to pray for the Palestinians, so that they are given physical and spiritual strength to defend their sovereignty against Israel," he stated at a press conference at the Media Center.

Jokowi said he will pray for the people of Palestine who are currently suffering due to Israeli attacks.

"May Allah always be with the Palestinians," he stated.

As a concrete step, Jokowi remarked that he will meet the Palestinian ambassador, with whom he shares a close friendship, to personally tender his support.

"I have a close friendship with the Palestinian ambassador, and I will meet him to personally convey our support to the Palestinian people and strongly condemn the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip," he added.

Jokowi had also asked the Indonesian people to help the Palestinians with financial contributions that will be channeled through the Palestinian embassy.

Jokowi has been declared as the winner of the presidential election on July 9 based on quick vote counts by several survey institutes.

However, his rival, Prabowo Subianto, has also claimed that he was the winner of the election based on quick vote counts by some survey institutes.

The official results of the election meanwhile will only be announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on July 22.

(T.I027/H-YH/INE/a014)
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(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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