Prabowo set to keep Indonesia’s strong pro-Palestinian stance amid ICJ case on Israeli occupation

Indonesia’s recent call to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to deliver an advisory opinion to stop Israel’s “unlawful occupation” in the Gaza Strip is consistent with its decades-long support for the Palestinians that president-elect Prabowo Subianto is expected to maintain, analysts say.

Such a position also aligns with the strong pro-Palestinian views of Indonesians across religious faiths in the Muslim-majority country, some of whom have actively participated in a boycott of international companies accused of financing Israel.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi conveyed Indonesia’s stance at The Hague on Friday as one of the 52 nations asked by the ICJ to participate in historic hearings on the legality of Israel’s 57-year-long occupation of the Palestinian territories.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even said, and I quote, ‘nobody will stop us – not The Hague … not anybody else’,” she said on Friday.

“No state should be granted free rein to do anything they want against a weaker state. This is why we have international law,” Retno added. “There is a big hope from the international community … that ICJ delivers a favourable advisory opinion to the interest of justice and humanity.”

In December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution requesting an advisory opinion by the ICJ on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. The opinion it issues is expected to carry substantial moral and legal weight despite being non-binding. Support for the ICJ to deliver a strong advisory opinion against the Israelis has intensified since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7 last year.

In her statement, Retno argued that the ICJ has the power to render the advisory opinion and rebuffed arguments by some states, including Israel, that the ICJ’s interference would undermine the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.