HNW Appreciates Indonesian Delegation's Walkout at UN, Urges Sanctions Against Israel

The Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), has expressed his appreciation for the Indonesian delegation’s decision to perform a walkout during the United Nations General Assembly session. The protest was carried out alongside delegations from 77 UN member states as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to deliver his speech.

HNW hopes that this moral sanction will be strengthened with more concrete actions to halt Israel’s crimes and realise global peace. “The walkout signifies the alignment of many UN member states with the people of Gaza, Palestine, and serves as a form of protest against the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Israel. Therefore, this action should not stop there, but must lead to more concrete steps. Because this walkintout has been performed almost every year, but due to a lack of follow-up, instead of Israel listening, their crimes have become more brutal with increasing casualties,” HNW stated in a written briefing on Wednesday (30/9/2026).

HNW noted that such moral sanctions have actually been implemented during UN General Assembly sessions in previous years. However, Israel has not ceased its terror against the people of Gaza; instead, it has become more brutal, expanding its crimes to the West Bank, the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, and even to other countries such as Lebanon and Syria.

He added that during this year’s UN General Assembly session, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrogantly referred to those who walked out as ‘cowards’. According to HNW, this serves as evidence that moral sanctions alone are no longer sufficient to stop Israel’s actions.

“This is proof that moral sanctions like this walkout, while still worthy of appreciation, are insufficient. Moral sanctions only hold meaning for those who possess morals. Therefore, moral sanctions need to be concretised through follow-up diplomatic, economic, and political sanctions to truly stop Israel’s terror and crimes, and to end its occupation of Palestine,” he asserted.

HNW argued that to make the walkout more meaningful, Indonesia needs to initiate a collective effort with the 77 countries that walked out and the 157 nations that already recognise Palestinian independence. This step should be demonstrated through economic boycott actions against Israel in all sectors to safeguard international law and global civilisation.

“One way is to immediately pass and implement the Bill on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel, which has been included in the DPR RI’s Long-Term National Legislation Programme (Prolegnas). If this can be discussed and passed promptly alongside the government, it could encourage other nations to take similar action. This is also in line with the Bandung Principles once initiated by President Soeklo Karno. I hope this Bill can also become a legacy for President Prabowo, not only for Palestine but for the international community in general,” he added.

HNW assessed that this move aligns with the stance of the Indonesian Government, as conveyed by Foreign Minister Sugiono at the UN General Assembly.

“Indonesia’s stance is very clear and has been reaffirmed: to continue supporting Palestinian independence and the end of Israeli occupation. This is not just a regional issue, but a real test for all of us that the principles of respect for sovereignty and the end of occupation can truly be upheld consistently,” said HNW.

Furthermore, HNW stated that the discussion of the Boycott Bill could serve as a momentum to criticise and cancel the ongoing Indonesia-Israel trade relations, despite the two countries not having diplomatic ties.

“With 77 countries walking out, and the support of approximately 157 UN member states for Palestine, taking serious steps to initiate an international alliance to save peace and civilisation, and to stop the crimes of genocide and Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, is an important cause for Indonesia to fight for, especially as it is a mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution,” he said.

HNW stated that the move to implement boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel at a state level is necessary, in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Additionally, this aligns with the stance of the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, which have issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu for war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip,” he added.

He also noted that the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry, established by the UN Human Rights Council, has concluded that Israel is responsible for war crimes, including extermination, murder, the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and the forced displacement of Palestinians.

“This has further clarified the crimes committed by Israel, and it is time for more concrete and harsh actions to be taken immediately,” he continued.

HNW expressed his hope that the UN General Assembly could issue a real resolution, similar to Resolution 1981, which applied comprehensive sanctions against the South African apartheid regime.

“Given the various atrocities and crimes of Israel that exceed the South African apartheid regime at that time, a similar resolution should be issued for Israel. This includes sanctions that can be pursued to punish Israel for the genocide being committed, such as expelling Israel from UN membership,” he concluded.