President Prabowo Subianto called for \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 while\nattending the centenary commemoration of Pondok Modern Darussalam\nGontor. Prabowo addressed the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people,\nwho continue to face persistent attacks.<\/p>\n
The call was made during his speech at the 100th anniversary of\nPondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday\n(19\/09\/2026). Initially, Prabowo greeted the invited guests, including\nthe Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdalfatah A.K. Al-Sattari.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ambassador of Syria, the Ambassador of Yemen, the Ambassador of\nPalestine,\u201d Prabowo stated in his address. Upon being acknowledged,\nAbdalfatah stood, prompting Prabowo to chant, \u201cFree Palestine! Free\nPalestine! Free Palestine!\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, Abdalfatah approached Prabowo to present a Palestinian\nturban as a gesture of respect, which the President accepted.<\/p>\n
Continuing his speech, Prabowo reflected on the hardships faced by\nthe Palestinian people. \u201cI apologise, but I was just reminded of our\nbrothers and sisters in Palestine. They are being massacred, bombed, and\ncontinuously attacked. And we seem powerless to help them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He asserted that these conditions should serve as a catalyst for\nIndonesia to strengthen its nation. He urged scholars, clerics,\neducators, and students to encourage the younger generation to study\ndiligently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe this must drive and trigger a will\u2014a will to study\nseriously, a will to build a strong Indonesian nation, because a nation\nthat is not strong will be trampled upon by other nations,\u201d he\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Prabeway emphasised that the Indonesian nation must learn from\nhistory to ensure that no one perceives the country\u2019s weaknesses. \u201cI\nhope that the next generation, the teachers, and the scholars can build\nthe courage to learn from our own weaknesses and deficiencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were once colonised by other nations. That is a bitter reality.\nOur fathers, our grandfathers, and our predecessors fought and resisted,\nbut for a long time, we were under the feet of other nations. This is\nbitter, but we must be brave enough to admit it, learn from it, and\nresolve that we shall never, ever be colonised again by anyone!\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
He maintained that Indonesia must be strong, noting that only through\nstrength can the nation assist other oppressed nations. \u201cWe must be\nstrong, because with strength, if we are strong, we can help our\nbrothers and sisters who are oppressed by other nations. If we have no\nstrength, how can we help?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdalfatic A.K. Al-Sattari,\nexpressed deep emotion and appreciation for the robust support of the\nIndonesian people towards Palestine. He noted that this attention is\nshared not only by President Prabowo but by various leaders and layers\nof Indonesian society.<\/p>\n
This sentiment was shared following the Thanksgiving Reception for\nthe 100th Anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo,\nEast Java. \u201cSince I arrived in Indonesia eight months ago, I have felt\nimmense support for Palestine. This is not the first time the President\nhas addressed the situation in Palestine. In various speeches,\nIndonesian leaders have spoken about Palestine,\u201d Al-Sattari stated.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere in Gontor became even more meaningful for him when\nPalestine\u2019s name was invoked in President Prabowo\u2019s speech, met with\nthunderous applause. During this moment, Ambassador Al-Sattari\napproached the President to drape a Palestinian keffiyeh around his neck\nas a token of honour and gratitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt very happy to see him present, and I decided to give the\nPalestinian keffiyeh to him, to thank him,\u201d he said. According to the\nAmbassador, the keffiyeh is more than just a cultural symbol; it carries\nthe memory of the history and struggle of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n
Al-Sattari added that the gesture was an expression of gratitude to\nPresident Prabowo and all Indonesians for their continuous support. He\nadmitted that embracing the President was a deeply emotional moment,\nmaking him feel that the Palestinian people are not fighting alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI may have cried after that because when I embraced him, I felt that\nwe are not alone. Indonesia stands with Palestine, and my people are not\nalone in Gaza and the West Bank,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n
Addressing the Indonesian people, particularly the students and the\nGontor community, Ambassador Al-Sattari expressed his hope that\nattention to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast. He also praised\nthe support coming from campuses, the public, and the media in\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
He noted that Indonesia\u2019s support for Palestinian independence and\nsovereignty is a consistent part of its official foreign policy. He\nconcluded with a simple request to the Indonesian people: prayers for\nhis people and his homeland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need only one thing from the Indonesian people: we need prayers,\nonly prayers for my people, for my country, and for our struggle. And we\nshall meet together in Palestine,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-echoes-free-palestine-call-during-gontor-islamic-boarding-school-centenary-1789829622", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }