Indonesia urges US to stop Israeli violence against Palestinians

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said he urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help halt what he described as systematic Israeli military violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, during talks in Washington on Thursday, Feb.19. 

The meeting took place after the Gaza Board of Peace summit, where leaders discussed efforts to advance stability and reconstruction in the Palestinian territory. 

Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Sugiono said he conveyed concerns shared by Indonesia and other members of the D8 group over escalating violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. 

He referred to a recent United Nations report warning that Israeli military actions were moving toward ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. 

“I conveyed the concerns of several D8 countries regarding the current situation in Palestine and the West Bank. We believe US leadership is crucial to stop or resolve what is happening there,” Sugiono said. 

Indonesia and several D8 members hope Washington can exercise effective oversight over Israeli military actions, so they do not undermine the implementation of plans under the Gaza Board of Peace initiative, he said. 

The Developing Eight (D8) is an economic cooperation group of Muslim-majority developing countries comprising Indonesia, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan, with Azerbaijan joining as the ninth member in December 2024. 

Sugiono said D8 members believe strong US supervision could help ensure the Board of Peace initiative proceeds to its next phase without disruption. 

Beyond Palestine, the meeting also covered Indonesia-US bilateral relations, including cooperation in defense, security, economic ties and people-to-people exchanges, he said. 

They also discussed broader regional developments, including the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia, particularly within the framework of ASEAN. 

Sugiono did not elaborate on Rubio’s response but said Indonesia would continue engaging partners to support peace efforts and stability in the region. 

The talks underscored Jakarta’s push for greater US involvement in addressing the Palestinian issue while maintaining strategic cooperation between the two countries across multiple sectors.