Earlier, Israeli outlets suggested that the Indonesian leader had initially been scheduled to visit Israel but later canceled the plan in protest of the publication.
In response, Sugiono emphasized that President Prabowo was focused solely on supporting the signing of the Gaza Peace Agreement during his participation in the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit for Gaza in Egypt on Monday (October 13).
“No, we did not respond to the claims with anger whatsoever because we were all fixated on the signing of the agreement, which was essentially a lengthy process,” he told the press at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.
The pact, expected to pave the way for lasting peace in Gaza and Palestine, was signed by United States President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
President Prabowo and other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, witnessed the signing of the agreement.
Sugiono, who accompanied President Prabowo to Egypt, affirmed that the head of state never intended to make a stop in Israel since departing Jakarta on Sunday (October 12) for the Gaza Peace Summit.
The minister added that the President’s itinerary had always been to attend the summit on Monday and return to Indonesia the following day.
“I can’t tell whether these claims are part of propaganda or not, but the original plan was for us to arrive home today,” Sugiono stated.
He made a similar statement earlier, denying rumors that the President planned to travel to Israel as part of his Middle East trip.
“The rumors are unfounded. As planned, the President will return to Indonesia after concluding his engagements in Egypt,” Sugiono reiterated, as conveyed by Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi in Jakarta on Monday.
Related news: Gaza ceasefire a first step toward lasting peace: President Prabowo
Translator: Mentari/Andi, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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