Prabowo, Palestine, And The World’s Humanitarian Responsibility

Adhyaksanews. -- -- Jakarta. *Opini Dalam Bahasa Inggris* Gaza, Global Peace, and Indonesia’s Strategic Role

By : Feri Rusdiono, SH – Senior Journalist, Chairman of DPP PWOD Indonesia

President Joko Widodo’s successor, President Prabowo Subianto, delivered a powerful speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, reaffirming Indonesia’s foreign policy: independent, active, humanist, and deeply rooted in a long history of anti-colonial struggle.

In a world still marred by wars and injustice, Prabowo did not merely deliver diplomatic rhetoric. He offered a bold, concrete solution—committing to deploy 20,000 Indonesian peacekeepers to Gaza and other conflict zones. This is no small gesture. It is a courageous move, one that goes beyond empty condemnations and shows Indonesia’s willingness to take real action.

The issue of Palestine was at the heart of his speech. For Indonesia, Palestine is not just a matter of foreign policy—it is a matter of conscience. Prabowo firmly rejected the old doctrine that “the strong may do as they wish, while the weak must suffer.” This is the doctrine that has sustained Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestine.

By rejecting such injustice, Indonesia reminds the world that international law must not be twisted to serve the interests of powerful states. Prabowo’s call for solidarity across nations, religions, and races reflects Indonesia’s universal humanitarian message to the world.

This message is particularly relevant in today’s polarized global order, where major powers often prioritize geopolitical gains over human dignity. Under Prabowo’s leadership, Indonesia is insisting that the rights of ordinary people—the true victims of wars, blockades, and hunger—must come first.

Indonesia’s peacekeeping offer is the embodiment of that commitment. It signals that Indonesia is not content to remain a bystander, but is ready to step onto the frontline of international service. This is consistent with Indonesia’s identity as the world’s third-largest democracy and the largest Muslim-majority nation.

Support for Palestine has always been a cornerstone of Indonesian diplomacy. From Sukarno to today, Indonesia has never wavered in opposing colonialism in all its forms. The Palestinian struggle is not just an Arab or Islamic issue—it is a universal humanitarian struggle.

Every child killed in Gaza is a failure of civilization. Every demolished home is a reminder that international law has been trampled. Prabowo’s call must therefore be strengthened by a global movement demanding justice.

Moreover, Prabowo also highlighted food security and renewable energy, linking peace to prosperity. True peace is not merely the absence of war, but also the presence of justice and sustainable development.

The world needs leaders who dare to speak the truth at international forums. Prabowo has done that. The next task is to ensure those words are followed by active diplomacy, coalition-building, and popular support.

Public opinion, in Indonesia and worldwide, must unite in the awareness that a free Palestine is essential for lasting global peace. Gaza is no longer just a regional crisis—it is a symbol of humanity’s failure, a mirror reflecting the international system’s inability to prevent injustice.

The world has seen every drop of blood, every collapsed building, every cry of orphaned children. We must now ask: can we still boast of modern civilization if we allow this massacre to continue?

Indonesia, with its anti-colonial legacy, cannot remain silent. Silence means legitimizing injustice as the new normal. Gaza has been strangled by blockades and wars for decades, and the world has grown disturbingly accustomed to Palestinian suffering. But Gaza’s pain is not theirs alone—it is humanity’s shared wound.

Too often, Palestine is used as a rhetorical token in global forums. But rhetoric without action is a betrayal. Indonesia must insist: peace cannot wait. The world cannot allow more Palestinian children to be buried before action is taken.

Public opinion is a force. When nations converge on the view that Palestine’s freedom is non-negotiable, diplomacy will move faster. The voice of the people can pressure governments that remain ambiguous.

In Indonesia, solidarity with Palestine runs deep—from the streets to universities, from mosques to churches. This unity must not remain symbolic but must be channeled into strategic action. Prabowo’s commitment to deploy peacekeepers is a step that proves Indonesia is not just a developing country, but a nation with moral authority and historic legitimacy.

The two-state solution—Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully—is not utopian. It has long been recognized internationally, but continually ignored for the sake of narrow political interests. The path forward requires three priorities: a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian reconstruction, and full political recognition of Palestine.

Indonesia could even launch a new initiative, the Jakarta Peace Forum for Gaza, bringing together states, civil society, and international organizations to unite around peace. Such a move would enhance Indonesia’s role as a frontliner for global justice.

But diplomacy must be backed by global public opinion. Imagine if every major media outlet framed Gaza not as a political dispute, but as a humanitarian catastrophe. Imagine if millions of voices across social media demanded in unison: stop the war, free Palestine.

This is what we call public opinion diplomacy—a non-military strategy that can be more effective than bombs or vetoes. Indonesia, with its vibrant civil society, can lead this movement.

As Sukarno once declared: “As long as the independence of Palestine has not been handed over to the Palestinians, we will stand against Israeli colonialism.” This is not merely history—it is Indonesia’s moral promise to the world.

The United Nations can no longer afford to ignore Gaza. To do so would be to destroy its own credibility. The UN Security Council must not remain hostage to the vetoes of major powers. Humanity is greater than politics.

Indonesia must spearhead a coalition of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Islamic world to counterbalance Western hegemony on this issue. But we must also avoid blind hatred. True peace will only exist when both Israelis and Palestinians can live with equal dignity.

Yet peace is impossible without full recognition of Palestinian sovereignty. This is the cornerstone. Global public opinion must keep pressuring those states that still refuse to recognize Palestine.

Indonesia holds a golden opportunity to lead this movement. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy, its voice carries weight. Gaza is the gateway to global peace. A stable Gaza means a stable Middle East, and global stability follows.

The fight for Gaza, therefore, is a fight for the world. Indonesia must not hesitate. To stand for justice is to stand for our own identity as a nation.

Gaza is calling. How we respond will define our generation. Will we be remembered as those who let genocide persist, or as those who had the courage to end tyranny? The choice is ours—today, not tomorrow.