Indonesia's swift endorsement of the Gaza ceasefire deal in January 2025 represents more than a diplomatic formality. It reflects the convergence of moral principle, historical solidarity, and strategic ambition that has long characterized Jakarta's approach to the Palestinian question.
When Foreign Minister Sugiono welcomed the ceasefire agreement, his words carried the weight of 15 months of devastating conflict. Calling for the deal's swift and comprehensive implementation, he emphasized what statistics often obscure: that tens of thousands of Palestinian lives lost each represent someone's child, parent, or friend. This human-centered framing underscores Indonesia's consistent positioning as a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, rooted in its identity as the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Yet Indonesia's support extends far beyond rhetorical solidarity. President Prabowo Subianto's offer to deploy at least 20,000 Indonesian troops as peacekeepers to Gaza signals Jakarta's willingness to translate words into concrete action. This is not merely symbolic posturing but a substantial commitment of military resources to safeguard any future peace arrangement. Indonesia's readiness to contribute to Gaza's reconstruction further demonstrates that its engagement is designed for the long term, not just the current crisis.
Indonesia's position also reflects a sophisticated understanding of the conflict's deeper dynamics. Foreign Minister Sugiono made clear that while the ceasefire is welcome, it cannot substitute for a genuine resolution. Indonesia maintains that the two-state solution remains the only viable path forward, and that lasting peace is impossible without ending Israel's occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state. This insistence on addressing root causes rather than merely managing symptoms distinguishes Indonesia's approach from more transactional diplomatic interventions.
The geopolitical dimension of Indonesia's stance is equally significant. By joining a coalition statement with Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt that welcomed President Trump's role in brokering the ceasefire, Indonesia positioned itself within a broader Muslim and Arab diplomatic front. This alignment serves multiple purposes: it amplifies Indonesia's voice on the international stage, strengthens its credentials within the Muslim world, and demonstrates its capacity to work within complex multilateral frameworks.
Domestically, Indonesia's strong stance on Gaza resonates deeply with its population and reinforces the government's Islamic credentials without compromising its secular constitutional framework. This balancing act exemplifies Indonesia's "independent and active" foreign policy doctrine, which seeks to advance national interests while maintaining principled positions on global issues.
What emerges from Indonesia's response to the Gaza ceasefire is a portrait of a rising middle power seeking to shape, not merely respond to, international developments. Indonesia is leveraging the ceasefire moment to establish itself as a constructive actor willing to commit substantial resources to peacebuilding, while simultaneously maintaining unwavering support for Palestinian statehood. In doing so, Jakarta demonstrates that effective diplomacy in the twenty-first century requires both moral clarity and practical engagement—a lesson that remains relevant far beyond the specific context of Gaza.