Key Takeaways from Indonesia's Prabowo UN Address on Palestine

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto attended the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, on Monday, September 22, 2025.

The conference, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed to reinvigorate global commitment to the two-state solution between Palestine and Israel. Indonesia, as a core group member, participated in safeguarding the peace process.

The conference was kicked off with speeches from five leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who spoke in a video address directly from Palestine.

President Prabowo had the opportunity to speak as the 5th out of a total of 33 countries and international organizations invited to address the forum. He delivered his statement after Jordan, Turkey, Brazil, and Portugal.

Limited to 33, speakers at the session were prioritized for the core group states with key roles in overseeing the implementation of the two-state solution, including Indonesia. Here are the key takeaways from President Prabowo's speech at the UN General Assembly:

Condemning the "Humanitarian Catastrophe" in Gaza

In his address, Prabowo underscored several points regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel. He commended the joint initiative of France and Saudi Arabia in hosting the conference. Additionally, he condemned what he described as the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza, where thousands of lives, many of whom were women and children, have been killed, with the threat of famine exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

"We condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians," he stated.

Calling for Global Support for the Two-State Solution

Prabowo repeatedly expressed support for the two-state solution on various occasions, which he reaffirmed during his UN General Assembly debut. According to the Indonesian president, the UN meeting represented a historical responsibility towards the Palestinian crisis. He emphasized that the forum did not only address the fate of Palestine but also the future of Israel and the credibility of the UN.

"Indonesia once again reiterates its commitment to the two-state solution in resolving the Palestine problem," Prabowo said.

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution supporting the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict on Friday, September 12, 2025. According to a CBS News report, out of the 193 member states, 142 voted in favor of the resolution, 10 voted against, and 12 abstained.

The United States was among the small group that opposed the resolution.

The non-binding resolution endorsed the New York Declaration, a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year-old conflict. This document emerged from a high-level conference at the UN Headquarters in July, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia.

The two-state solution is a proposed framework for peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by dividing the current area into two states, one for Palestine and the other for Israel. This solution was agreed upon by then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the Chair of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat, in September 1993. The agreement is known as the Oslo Accords.

But not all parties have accepted it. Nationalist factions in Israel and Palestine opposed the two-state solution. Rabin was then assassinated by the right-wing nationalist faction in Israel.

Willingness to Recognize Israel on Condition of Palestine Statehood

President Prabowo pledged that Indonesia would recognize the State of Israel once it acknowledged Palestinian independence. "We must guarantee statehood for Palestine, but Indonesia also declares that once Israel recognizes the independence and statehood of Palestine, Indonesia will immediately recognize the State of Israel," Prabowo said.

Taking it a step further, Prabowo affirmed his commitment to support guarantees for the security of Israel after the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Prabowo made a similar statement during a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron on May 28, reiterating Indonesia's willingness to recognize Israel upon its recognition of a sovereign Palestine.

Prabowo also stated that Indonesia would ensure Israel's sovereignty and security. Furthermore, Indonesia is prepared to deploy peacekeeping forces at their mutual border.

In response, Hikmahanto Juwana, a Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia, said Prabowo's statement lines up with the two-state stance the Indonesian government supported. "This is in line with the two-state solution policy where Israel is independent alongside an independent Palestine," Hikmahanto told Tempo on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Hikmahanto said the two-state solution outlined in the Oslo Accords has always been hindered by Hamas, as the resistance group believes an independent Palestine must stand on Palestinian land void of the State of Israel. "This is not adopted by Fatah," said Hikmahanto, referring to the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, founded in 1958.

Indonesia Ready to Send Peacekeeping Forces to Gaza

In addition to supporting the Two-State Solution for resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict, Prabowo also declared Indonesia's readiness to send peacekeeping forces to the Gaza-Israel border. According to Prabowo, the New York Declaration has opened a peaceful and just pathway towards peace, adding that recognition of Palestinian sovereignty means a chance toward lasting peace. "It must be peace for all sides, for all parties," he said.

Prabowo also appreciated major countries that have taken steps to recognize Palestinian statehood, such as Australia, the UK, and Portugal. According to Prabowo, these countries have made the right historical decisions. "The recognition of the state of Palestine is the right step on the right side of history," he said.

Prabowo also called on other countries to promptly recognize Palestine and to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. "Indonesia is ready to take part in this journey towards peace. We are willing to provide peacekeeping forces," Prabowo said. "Peace now. Peace immediately. We need peace."

Earlier, Prabowo reasserted his willingness to send peacekeeping forces to Gaza during a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, United States, on Monday, September 22, 2025.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said they discussed a number of strategic issues, including Indonesia's commitment to supporting the peaceful resolution of the Palestine conflict through a two-state solution and Indonesia's full support for UN efforts in carrying out its mandate. The Head of State also emphasized Indonesia's readiness to contribute to peace missions, particularly in the Gaza situation.

"(Prabowo) also expressed support and commitment to the UN in carrying out its duties, including those related to the situation in Gaza. If peace and ceasefire are achieved, Indonesia expresses its willingness and support to send peacekeeping forces there," said Sugiono in his official statement.