Prabowo Echoes 'Free Palestine' Call During Gontor Islamic Boarding School Centenary
President Prabowo Subianto called for ‘Free Palestine’ while attending the centenary commemoration of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor. Prabowo addressed the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, who continue to face persistent attacks.
The call was made during his speech at the 100th anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday (19/09/2026). Initially, Prabowo greeted the invited guests, including the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdalfatah A.K. Al-Sattari.
“The Ambassador of Syria, the Ambassador of Yemen, the Ambassador of Palestine,” Prabowo stated in his address. Upon being acknowledged, Abdalfatah stood, prompting Prabowo to chant, “Free Palestine! Free Palestine! Free Palestine!”
In response, Abdalfatah approached Prabowo to present a Palestinian turban as a gesture of respect, which the President accepted.
Continuing his speech, Prabowo reflected on the hardships faced by the Palestinian people. “I apologise, but I was just reminded of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. They are being massacred, bombed, and continuously attacked. And we seem powerless to help them,” he said.
He asserted that these conditions should serve as a catalyst for Indonesia to strengthen its nation. He urged scholars, clerics, educators, and students to encourage the younger generation to study diligently.
“I believe this must drive and trigger a will—a will to study seriously, a will to build a strong Indonesian nation, because a nation that is not strong will be trampled upon by other nations,” he remarked.
Prabeway emphasised that the Indonesian nation must learn from history to ensure that no one perceives the country’s weaknesses. “I hope that the next generation, the teachers, and the scholars can build the courage to learn from our own weaknesses and deficiencies.”
“We were once colonised by other nations. That is a bitter reality. Our fathers, our grandfathers, and our predecessors fought and resisted, but for a long time, we were under the feet of other nations. This is bitter, but we must be brave enough to admit it, learn from it, and resolve that we shall never, ever be colonised again by anyone!” he added.
He maintained that Indonesia must be strong, noting that only through strength can the nation assist other oppressed nations. “We must be strong, because with strength, if we are strong, we can help our brothers and sisters who are oppressed by other nations. If we have no strength, how can we help?”
The Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdalfatic A.K. Al-Sattari, expressed deep emotion and appreciation for the robust support of the Indonesian people towards Palestine. He noted that this attention is shared not only by President Prabowo but by various leaders and layers of Indonesian society.
This sentiment was shared following the Thanksgiving Reception for the 100th Anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java. “Since I arrived in Indonesia eight months ago, I have felt immense support for Palestine. This is not the first time the President has addressed the situation in Palestine. In various speeches, Indonesian leaders have spoken about Palestine,” Al-Sattari stated.
The atmosphere in Gontor became even more meaningful for him when Palestine’s name was invoked in President Prabowo’s speech, met with thunderous applause. During this moment, Ambassador Al-Sattari approached the President to drape a Palestinian keffiyeh around his neck as a token of honour and gratitude.
“I felt very happy to see him present, and I decided to give the Palestinian keffiyeh to him, to thank him,” he said. According to the Ambassador, the keffiyeh is more than just a cultural symbol; it carries the memory of the history and struggle of the Palestinian people.
Al-Sattari added that the gesture was an expression of gratitude to President Prabowo and all Indonesians for their continuous support. He admitted that embracing the President was a deeply emotional moment, making him feel that the Palestinian people are not fighting alone.
“I may have cried after that because when I embraced him, I felt that we are not alone. Indonesia stands with Palestine, and my people are not alone in Gaza and the West Bank,” he revealed.
Addressing the Indonesian people, particularly the students and the Gontor community, Ambassador Al-Sattari expressed his hope that attention to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast. He also praised the support coming from campuses, the public, and the media in Indonesia.
He noted that Indonesia’s support for Palestinian independence and sovereignty is a consistent part of its official foreign policy. He concluded with a simple request to the Indonesian people: prayers for his people and his homeland.
“We need only one thing from the Indonesian people: we need prayers, only prayers for my people, for my country, and for our struggle. And we shall meet together in Palestine,” he concluded.