Small Steps for Gaza: When Children Join the Cause of Palestine

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — That morning, the atmosphere around the Lapangan Banteng area felt different. The sun had just risen, but participants had already gathered at the West Gate of Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Among the crowd, children holding Palestinian flags, women wearing keffiyeh headscarves, and fathers walking hand-in-hand with their sons and daughters were visible.

They came for a common purpose: to keep the memory of Palestine alive. The event, titled Maqdisy Heroes Long March Vol. 02, was more than just a leisurely walk. It served as a platform to voice humanitarian solidarity and remind the public that the occupation continues in Palestinian territory.

One participant, Amar, from Bintaro, walked with his wife and two children towards the event location. One of his children carried a poster that read, “The foundations of Baitul Maqdis are eroded by Zionists every day.” Meanwhile, his wife wore a headscarf with a distinctive Palestinian keffiyeh pattern.

For Amar, bringing his children to the event was not a spontaneous decision. Since the humanitarian tragedy escalated again on October 7, he felt it was important to instill concern for Palestine from an early age within his family.

“It is very important for Muslims to care about Baitul Maqdis. Sometimes, as Muslims, we must remember that we have three holy mosques, not two. So, there are three holy mosques that we must protect, and many people forget about that,” Amar said when speaking with Republika.

For him, Palestine is not an issue far removed from the lives of Indonesian people. There are historical, humanitarian, and spiritual ties that make the issue feel close to home. “I brought my children to raise awareness so that they always care for our Muslim brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said.

A similar atmosphere was also evident from Fadil’s family. He came with his wife and children, who had prepared a special performance for the event. At the event, children were given space to express their solidarity through poetry, songs, and stories about Palestine.

“So, there was a kind of competition where the children showed their actions and activities in the form of poetry, songs, stories, and so on. Fortunately, when the children were offered the opportunity, they were happy to participate, so we joined,” said Fadil.