Prabowo and Indonesia's active role in pursuing lasting peace in Gaza

..advocating for Palestinian independence is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a moral principle rooted in the constitutional mandate for lasting world peace.

Jakarta (ANTARA) –

On October 12, President Prabowo Subianto received a call and an invitation from US President Donald Trump to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace in the Middle East, held in Egypt the following day.

The White House stated that Indonesia’s presence was essential at the Gaza Peace Summit, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, alongside dozens of prominent world figures.

Without delay, President Prabowo immediately held a preparatory meeting at his residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta. The three-hour meeting was attended by key government officials, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi.

According to the State Secretary, the impromptu invitation—received only a day apart—was not merely a regular diplomatic call but a special recognition of Indonesia’s role in shaping peaceful solutions, particularly regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

President Prabowo is known for his outspoken advocacy of global peace, having spoken about the two-state solution during the 80th UN Session in New York last September.

Through this solution, Indonesia expressed hope for Palestine and Israel to live peacefully side by side, with mutual respect for their rights.

From the UN Headquarters, Prabowo emphasized Indonesia’s position as one of the largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping Forces, including the planned deployment of 20,000 additional troops for peacekeeping missions in Gaza and other conflict zones, such as Ukraine, Sudan, and Libya.

Indonesia’s strong commitment is driven by deep concern for the suffering and injustice caused by war, including genocide, which remains a threat in various parts of the world.

The President urged world leaders to unite in promoting peace, upholding justice, and safeguarding freedom for all humanity. With this shared intention, 20 world leaders gathered at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, initiated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump.

They included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Also in attendance were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi.

Several organizational leaders were also present, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Trump particularly praised Indonesia’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the war in the Gaza Strip.

“Also with us, President Prabowo — a very incredible man, President of Indonesia. Great job!” Trump said to Prabowo.

Related news: Trump praises Prabowo for role in Middle East peace efforts

Initial steps

The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit marked the beginning of a new era of regional stability. The summit’s official statement noted that its main goal was to end the war in the Gaza Strip and intensify efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

This meeting of world leaders aligned with President Trump’s vision for peace in the region and his persistent efforts to end conflicts worldwide.

The summit represented the culmination of a dynamic diplomatic effort, particularly following Trump’s declaration on Israel and Hamas, who agreed to implement the first phase of his 20-point peace plan on September 29. The plan stipulates that within 72 hours of Israel agreeing to a ceasefire, all hostages—both living and deceased—must be returned.

As part of the agreement, after the release of hostages, Israel would free 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained since the October 7, 2023, attack, including women and children.

Furthermore, for every body of an Israeli hostage returned, Israel would hand over the bodies of 15 Gazans to Palestinian authorities.

Other provisions include the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the entire Gaza Strip, effective October 10, accompanied by a ceasefire and the complete disarmament of Hamas.

The next phase of the peace plan outlines several important steps, including the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza—without Hamas’ participation—the formation of a new security force composed of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and the rehabilitation of Palestine’s infrastructure.

The peace document signing ceremony took place on October 13 at the summit, attended by Trump, El-Sisi, Erdogan, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Other world leaders, including President Prabowo, who sat alongside Macron, witnessed the signing.

Related news: Prabowo seen as global peacemaker at Gaza Summit: Minister

Guarding the Peace

The next day (October 14), Presidential Aircraft-1 landed at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta. President Prabowo disembarked from the aircraft, carrying with him the impressions of Sharm El-Sheikh diplomacy.

He spoke briefly to journalists, stating that he had defended Palestine for decades, since his youth. For him, advocating for Palestinian independence is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a moral principle rooted in the constitutional mandate for lasting world peace.

His remarks recalled Indonesia’s stance, as it was among the first countries in the world to recognize Palestinian independence on November 15, 1988, shortly after Yasser Arafat declared it in Algiers.

Under his leadership, that support has been maintained and further strengthened through concrete actions. The Indonesian government has distributed thousands of tons of rice to help Palestinians affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt marked a new chapter in the global pursuit of peace in the Middle East.

For Indonesia, the struggle is far from over—it continues through an active and consistent global stance in safeguarding peace.

Now, under Prabowo’s leadership, that voice echoes once more on the global stage, reaffirming the Republic’s founding principle: that independence is the right of every nation, and that the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel is closer to realization.

Related news: Gaza ceasefire a first step toward lasting peace: President Prabowo

Related news: Indonesia denies reports of Prabowo’s planned visit to Israel

Source link