Indonesia’s Prabowo: Gaza violence underscores breakdown of world’s rules-based system

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has said the Gaza war is undermining the foundations of a Western-backed, rules-based international order and humanitarian ideology in light of the relentless loss of civilian lives.

Prabowo, who was the only Southeast Asian head of state to speak at the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Friday, said the violence and unilateral decisions by the West were only leading the world towards unrest with little say for emerging nations.

“The situation in Gaza is teaching the world that many of the great powers that espouse great ideals, now in the eyes of the Global South have fallen short,” he said, adding it was inconceivable how Western powers were keeping quiet over the situation.

The Indonesian president cut a stoic figure, at times sombre, as he also reflected how he had to work hard on issues his people felt deeply about, such as Gaza, as they viewed Israel’s actions as an attack on humanity and on Muslims.

“How can a six-year-old boy or girl be guilty of anything?” he asked, referring to the loss of children’s lives in the war. “It is something which is very hard to digest.”

Violence has renewed in Gaza since a truce between Israel and Hamas fell apart last month, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown.