Prabowo Shouts ‘Free Palestine,’ Calls for Stronger Indonesia
Ponorogo, E. Java. President Prabowo Subianto called on Indonesians to build a stronger nation so the country would be better able to help Palestinians, as he expressed concern over the continuing bloodshed in Gaza.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo on Saturday, Prabowo said Palestinians were being killed and attacked while the world appeared unable to do enough to help.
“I remembered our brothers and sisters in Palestine. They are being killed, bombed and attacked continuously, and we seem to be powerless to help them,” Prabowo said.
Prabowo then shouted “Free Palestine” three times after acknowledging Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulfattah AK Al-Sattari, who was attending the event.
The ambassador joined Prabowo on stage and placed a keffiyeh, a scarf widely associated with Palestinian identity and solidarity, around the president’s neck. Prabowo then embraced him.
Prabowo said Indonesia must learn from its own history and have the courage to acknowledge its weaknesses rather than focusing only on its achievements.
“I hope the next generation, the ustaz and the ulama can build the courage to learn from our own weaknesses and shortcomings,” he said.
He recalled Indonesia’s experience under colonial rule and urged the country never to allow itself to be dominated by another nation.
“We must be determined that we will never again be colonized by anyone,” Prabowo said.
“A nation that is not strong will be trampled by other nations,” he added.
Gontor, one of Indonesia’s best-known Islamic boarding schools, was founded in 1926 by three brothers — Ahmad Sahal, Zainuddin Fananie and Imam Zarkasyi. The institution combines Islamic and general education, with Arabic and English central to its curriculum, and has produced generations of Muslim scholars and educators.
The remarks came as the Gaza war continued. The Palestinian Health Ministry says 73,789 Palestinians have been killed and more than 174,700 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
Indonesia has consistently supported Palestinian statehood and called for an end to the conflict.
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