Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Umar Shihab has advised Muslim organizations and the general public not to send volunteers to fight against Israelis on behalf of the Palestinian people.

"MUI has no authority to forbid, but MUI advises Muslim organizations to avoid launching a jihad. A jihad is OK in principle, but Islam teaches us to embark on a jihad by
contributing our wealth first," Umar said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara state news agency.

Indonesia's sympathy for the Palestinian people in Gaza is not only based on religious ties, but also comes from a humanitarian perspective, Umar said, adding that the Israeli forces had killed more than 360 people, many of them civilians.

"What they (Israel) has done is less than human," Umar said.

The MUI condemns Israel for the attacks and demands the United Nations step in and stop the slaughter, he said.