The Indonesian government on Tuesday told the National Tennis Association to drop plan of sending women's tennis team to Israel for the Fed Cup World Group II playoff on July 15-16 following the recent military operation in Gaza.

"Please consider the suffering of the Palestinian people," the Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Desra Percaya was quoted by the Detikcom news website as saying.

"The current situation makes it inappropriate to play there (in Israel). Israel again launched aggression against civilians."

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle for nationhood.

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his government will never establish diplomatic ties with Israel until it can reach a peaceful settlement with Palestine.

Source: Xinhua