Prabowo Remembers Palestine During Gontor's 100th Anniversary Celebration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto admitted that he was reminded of the plight of the Palestinian people when he was presented with a keffiyeh by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattari, during a thanksgiving reception for the 100th anniversary of the Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boardings School in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday.

“I apologise. I was just reminded of our brothers and sisters in Palestine,” Prabowo said during his speech, as quoted from a live broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel in Jakarta.

While delivering his remarks to the ambassadors of friendly nations in attendance, the President received special treatment when greeting the Palestinian Ambassador. Prabowo shouted “Free Palestine” several times throughout his speech.

Abdulfattah approached Prabowo and presented him with a keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, to the President. The two subsequently embraced, and Prabowo wore the keffiyeh for the remainder of his speech and the event.

Prabowo stated that the Palestinian people continue to face attacks and conditions that he described as distressing. “They are being massacred, they are being bombed, they are being continuously attacked,” he said.

He admitted that these conditions made him reflect on Indonesia’s limitations in assisting the Palestinian people. “And we seem powerless to help them,” said Prabowo.

According to the President, these conditions should encourage religious leaders, scholars, educators, and the next generation to study earnestly and build a strong Indonesia.

“I believe this is precisely what should drive us all, especially our brothers, especially the clerics, the scholars, and the educators in institutions such as Gontor,” he said.

Prabowo stated that Indonesia’s strength is necessary so that the nation possesses the capability to assist oppressed peoples.

“Because with strength, if we are strong, we can help our brothers and sisters who are oppressed and downtrodden by other nations,” said Prabowo.

On that occasion, Prabowo also called for support for Palestine in front of the event participants.

“Free Palestine!” shouted Prabowo.