Indonesia’s Consistent Support for Palestine Reflected in UN Two-State Declaration
Key Takeaways
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NEW YORK, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s long-standing support for Palestinian independence has found global resonance as the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the “New York Declaration,” a resolution setting a concrete and time-bound path toward a two-state solution. The declaration, approved on Friday, Sept 13, 2025, won 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions out of 193 UN members.
The resolution, presented by Permanent Representative of France to the UN Jérôme Bonnafont on behalf of France, Saudi Arabia, and other backers, rejected forced demographic changes or expulsion of Palestinians.
It called for the establishment of an independent, democratic, and sovereign Palestinian state with sustainable economic capacity to coexist peacefully with Israel in mutual recognition and regional integration.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely opposed the resolution. Just hours before the vote, he signed a new West Bank settlement expansion deal and declared, “There will be no Palestinian state,” adding, “This place belongs to us,” according to regional reports.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour welcomed the outcome as reflecting “the yearning of almost the entire international community to open a path to peace.” He urged those pursuing “war and destruction” to heed reason and pursue a peaceful settlement.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the resolution as a “theatrical show” that benefits Hamas, a position echoed by the United States. US Mission Adviser Morgan Ortagus called the declaration “a misguided publicity stunt that undermines serious diplomatic efforts,” stressing, “Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas.”
The declaration condemned both the Hamas attack of Oct 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people, and Israel’s retaliatory strikes that Gaza’s Health Ministry said have killed more than 64,000 Palestinians. It mandated that the Palestinian Authority take charge of all Palestinian territories, while Hamas must disarm and relinquish Gaza.
The declaration also supported a temporary UN stabilization mission to protect civilians, assist in the security transition, and provide guarantees for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Prabowo’s Consistent Advocacy
Indonesia has been a steadfast supporter of Palestinian statehood, with President Prabowo Subianto consistently raising the issue in global and bilateral forums since taking office.
In November 2024, during a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Prabowo called for an end to violence in Palestine and Lebanon. In February 2025, he pressed the same message with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then reiterated support for Gaza’s reconstruction the next day.
At the April 2025 Parliamentary Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Prabowo underlined Palestinians’ right to independence. Similar support was voiced jointly with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in May 2025, and again with French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta that same month. Most recently, he reaffirmed Indonesia’s stance in his inaugural address to parliament on Aug 15, 2025.
Prabowo’s position is consistent with his inaugural pledge as Indonesia’s eighth president to uphold an independent and active foreign policy guided by anti-colonial principles. “We choose friendship with all nations. Indonesia will act as a good neighbor. We embrace the philosophy that a thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many,” he said.
He emphasized Indonesia’s empathy with oppressed peoples: “Because we have experienced colonialism, we oppose oppression. Because we were once subjugated, we oppose racism and apartheid. Because we were once treated as lower than animals, we support the independence of the Palestinian people,” Prabowo declared, drawing applause.
Prabowo also recalled Indonesia’s humanitarian efforts under former President Joko Widodo, including sending medical teams to Gaza. “Despite the high risks, our doctors and nurses are working in Rafah alongside colleagues from the UAE. We are ready to send more aid, evacuate the wounded, and shelter traumatized children. We have prepared military hospitals and civilian facilities to assist victims of this unjust war,” he affirmed.
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