Indonesian president declares 'Free Palestine' at Islamic gathering

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed strong support for the Palestinians on Saturday at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the prominent Gontor Islamic boarding school in eastern Indonesia.

“I remember our brothers and sisters in Palestine. They are being massacred, bombed, and attacked continuously, and it seems that we are powerless to help them,” Subianto said.

According to Indonesia’s Antara news agency, Subianto argued that “the continuing attacks against Palestinians should encourage Indonesia to build its national strength.”

Subianto reportedly concluded his remarks by stating, “Free Palestine,” a slogan frequently used at pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations around the world.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) envoy to Indonesia, Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattari, was at the event and presented the Indonesian leader with a keffiyeh as an official gift from Ramallah.

Subianto’s latest remarks contrast with his address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2025, when he said that “we must recognize, respect and guarantee the security of Israel in order to achieve true peace in the Middle East.”

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, currently has no official diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Subianto has previously indicated that Indonesia would consider normalizing ties with Israel as part of a two-state solution.

“Indonesia once again reiterates its commitment to the two-state solution of the Palestine problem. Only this will lead to peace. We must guarantee statehood for Palestine,” Subianto said at the UNGA last September, stressing that his country would support “all guarantees for the security of Israel.” At the time, he also said that Indonesia could contribute some 20,000 troops to help secure post-war Gaza.

“If and when the UN, the Security Council, and this General Assembly decide, Indonesia is ready to deploy 20,000 or even more of our sons and daughters to establish peace in Gaza or elsewhere. In Ukraine, Sudan, Libya – wherever peace needs to be established, wherever peace needs to be defended,” Subianto said.

One month later, in October 2025, Subianto was reportedly scheduled to make a surprise visit to Israel, in what was viewed as a potential diplomatic thaw between the two countries. However, the visit was canceled and never took place.

Earlier this year, Subianto attended the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-backed Peace Council in Washington, D.C., where he offered to contribute some 8,000 peacekeeping troops to Gaza.

Indonesia subsequently joined the Board of Peace (BoP). However, in March, Subianto signaled that Indonesia would withdraw if the body no longer offered any “benefit for Palestine.”

In April, Indonesia signaled a potential willingness to temporarily house Gaza residents during the reconstruction of the coastal enclave.

“We are ready to evacuate those who are injured or traumatized, and orphans, if they want to be evacuated to Indonesia, and we are ready to send planes to transport them,” Subianto said in April.