"Indonesia, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, can propose the Gaza hunger crisis as a formal agenda item," Muhammad Syaroni Rofii, a University of Indonesia expert on Middle Eastern affairs, said on Tuesday.
He noted a growing shift in Western attitudes, with countries like France, Canada, and the Netherlands showing greater support for Palestinian statehood — a trend Indonesia could leverage.
"Indonesia could mobilize the Non-Aligned Movement to take a united position," he said.
Rofii also urged President Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Sugiono to engage diplomatically with leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Global South nations ahead of the UN meeting.
He stressed the need for the OIC to clarify and strengthen its stance on Palestinian independence, especially in response to mounting international concern.
"The OIC should meet to align its position before the General Assembly begins," he said.
Rofii also called for a coordinated response to Israel's blockade of Gaza, urging continued humanitarian aid and international pressure to lift the siege.
Regarding the Palestinian cause, ANTARA noted that Indonesia's position has remained consistent since the time of the country's founding president, Soekarno.
In 1962, Soekarno declared: “As long as the freedom of Palestine has yet to be returned to the Palestinians, then it will forever be for Indonesia to stand in defiance against the occupation by Israel.”
That statement continues to guide Jakarta’s foreign policy, reflecting Indonesia’s long-standing commitment to Palestinian independence and opposition to Israeli occupation.
On Israel's reported plan to take full control of the Gaza Strip, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry has condemned it as a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
The ministry warned that Israel's actions risk worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and further undermining peace efforts in the Middle East.
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Translator: Asri MS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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