President Prabowo says Indonesia must be strong to help Palestine

"If we are strong, we can help our brothers and sisters who are oppressed by another regime," Prabowo said in his remarks at the reception marking the 100th anniversary of Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School, here on Saturday.
Prabowo said the ongoing attacks faced by the Palestinian people should encourage Indonesia to build its national strength.
Prabowo said he was reminded of the Palestinian people while delivering remarks at the event.
Prabowo was presented with a keffiyeh by Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattari during his speech.
After returning to the podium, Prabowo was seen wiping his eyes with the traditional Palestinian scarf.
President Prabowo also shouted "Free Palestine" several times during his speech.
"I apologize. I was reminded of our brothers and sisters in Palestine," he said.
Prabowo said Indonesia needed to study diligently and build a strong nation so that it would have the capacity to face various challenges.
"I think this should encourage all of us, all of you, especially the kiai, the ulama, and educators at institutions like Gontor. I think this should encourage and motivate us," he said.
Prabowo stated that a nation's strength is also linked to the ability to be self-reliant and not depend on other nations.
The president added that Indonesia must be able to manage, protect, and strengthen itself by managing the wealth it possesses.
Prabowo also stressed the importance of learning from history to ensure that Indonesia would not experience colonization again.
"And we must be determined never to be colonized again by anyone. We must be strong," the President said.
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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2026

Facts Only

* Prabowo spoke at a reception marking the 100th anniversary of Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School.
* Prabowo stated that ongoing attacks faced by the Palestinian people should encourage Indonesia to build national strength.
* Prabowo was reminded of the Palestinian people while delivering remarks.
* Prabowo was presented with a keffiyeh by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattari.
* Prabowo wiped his eyes with the keffiyeh after returning to the podium.
* Prabowo shouted "Free Palestine" several times during his speech.
* Prabowo apologized, saying he was reminded of his brothers and sisters in Palestine.
* Prabowo stated Indonesia needs to study diligently and build a strong nation.
* Prabowo linked national strength to self-reliance and managing wealth.
* Prabowo stressed learning from history to avoid colonization.

Executive Summary

President Prabowo spoke at a reception marking the 100th anniversary of Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School, emphasizing the importance of national strength to aid oppressed groups. He stated that the ongoing attacks against the Palestinian people should motivate Indonesia to build its national strength. During his remarks, Prabowo recalled the Palestinian people and received a keffiyeh from the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, subsequently wiping his eyes with it. The President also expressed an apology, stating he was reminded of his brothers and sisters in Palestine, and called for Indonesia to diligently study and build a strong nation. He asserted that national strength is linked to self-reliance, managing possessed wealth, and learning history to prevent future colonization. Prabowo encouraged the kiai, ulama, and educators to be motivated by this message.

Full Take

The narrative functions by framing external geopolitical suffering as a catalyst for internal political action, shifting the focus from external conflict to the imperative of national self-strengthening. The interaction involving the Palestinian symbol serves to bridge an immediate humanitarian concern with long-term national security doctrine. The call for Indonesia to build strength, be self-reliant, and learn from history echoes a foundational theme of resisting external control—a powerful invocation rooted in historical memory that resonates across diverse political contexts. The pattern suggests a strategic deployment of moral solidarity to bolster domestic resolve; by connecting the fate of Palestinians to Indonesian national development, the message gains an appeal to collective responsibility among internal stakeholders like religious and educational leaders. This approach seeks to channel external empathy into cohesive nationalistic action, implying that the solution to global oppression is contingent upon achieving self-determination internally. The underlying assumption is that strength, defined as autonomy and self-sufficiency, is the prerequisite for surviving future subjugation. What is missing is an explicit mechanism detailing how this internal strengthening translates into concrete policy or institutional change, leaving the practical application of empowerment as a desired outcome rather than a fully detailed strategic roadmap.