SEVEN RI'S JOURNALISTS ENTER GAZA STRIP AFTER WAITING FOUR DAYS

Gaza Strip, Jan 22 (ANTARA)- Seven Indonesian journalists entered Gaza Strip in Palestine on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 06.30 p.m. local time or at 11.30 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) after waiting for four days.

The seven journalists waited in Rafah, a border zone between Egypt and Palestine since 5.00 p.m. local time on Wednesday before entering the Gaza Strip, Antara's journalist Andi Jauhari said, adding that the country's seven journalists came into Gaza as part of about 60 foreign ones.

The country's journalists who had entered Gaza Strip namely Hanibal Widada Yudya (ANTV), Musthofa Abdurrahman (Kompas correspondent in Egypt), Akbar Pribadi Brahmana Aji (Tempo), Trias Kuncahyono (Kompas daily), Andi Jauhari (ANTARA), Mahendro Wisnu Wardono (Metro TV) and Ismail Fahmi (TV One).

The gate to Rafah was closed following a total of 59 journalists (first round) were allowed to enter the conflict area on January 18, after Palestinian militants announced a one-week ceasefire Sunday after Israel called a unilateral halt to its massive offensive on Gaza.

In addition, two evacuation team members from Indonesian embassy in Cairo, Egypt set up for Indonesian workers namely Muhammad Abdullah and Muhammad Arifin (consulars) had tried to seek permission into Gaza Strip.

The evacuation team was formed as an effort to find an Indonesian woman worker namely Saodah who was trapped in war-stricken Gaza. ***5***