Indonesia's Proper Position in Facing Israel

In a democratic nation, public unrest is more than just social media noise; the public’s conscience serves as a political signal that must be addressed. Today, the Indonesian public is genuinely distressed. This stems from the deaths of three Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) members at the hands of Israel, with several others wounded, and the recent detention of five Indonesian citizens by the Zionist regime.

Amidst these events, the government’s response has felt underwhelming, characterised by overly cautious language and an excessively diplomatic approach. Foreign Minister Sugiono stated, ‘Currently, this is not a case of kidnapping or hostage-taking. This is a case where a ship carrying humanitarian aid was intercepted because they prohibited it—Israel prohibits any ship from entering that territory.’

The interpretation emerging in the public sphere is, understandably, disheartening. It implies that the activists are at fault for entering a territory ‘prohibited’ by Israel. However, the interception of civilian humanitarian ships using force, especially when positioned in international waters, is not a mere administrative matter. Israel’s actions constitute a serious violation of international law. Framing the situation by merely repeating Israel’s position is highly inappropriate. The government should instead frame this situation using moral and political language that demonstrates the firm position of the Republic of Indonesia: condemning Israel and supporting the enforcement of international law.