President Prabowo Echoes “Free Palestine” at Gontor

There was a moment that enlivened the atmosphere of the Thanksgiving Reception held by Darussalam Gontor Modern Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor or PMDG) to celebrate its 100th anniversary, in Ponorogo regency, East Java province, on Saturday (09/19). In the middle of his address at the Modern Islamic Boarding School Meeting Hall (BPPM), President Prabowo Subianto voiced his support for Palestine and greeted ambassadors of friendly countries attending the event.

When the President greeted Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdalfatah A.K. Alsattari, the boarding school students (santris), alumni, and guests responded with a round of big applause. Support for Palestine resonated strongly amidst the centennial commemoration of one of Indonesia’s prominent Islamic boarding schools.

The President then called out, “Free Palestine! Free Palestine! Free Palestine!” which was echoed by those attending the event.

The Ambassador subsequently approached the President and placed a keffiyeh—a patterned scarf closely associated with Palestinian identity—around the President’s neck.

The President accepted it, and the two embraced warmly before the President continued his address while wearing the keffiyeh over his shoulders.

The brief moment took on further significance as the President spoke regarding the situation of the Palestinian people. Before the Gontor community, the Head of State said that the suffering in Palestine should also remind Indonesia of the critical importance of building national strength.

“I was just reminded of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. They are slaughtered, bombed, and continuously attacked, while we seem to have limited ability to help them,” the President said.

For the President, concern over the situation should extend beyond sympathy. Addressing the kiais (Islamic scholars), ulemas, educators, and especially the younger generation in an educational institution such as Gontor, he called on them to elevate this concern into a motivation to study earnestly and contribute to building Indonesia into a strong nation.

“I believe this should encourage all of us, especially all of you, the kiais, the ulemas, and the educators in institutions like Gontor. This, I believe, must spur and ignite a determination,” the President stated.

“A determination to study earnestly. A determination to build a strong Indonesian nation, because a nation that is not strong will be trampled upon by other nations,” he continued.

On the occasion, amidst the centennial thanksgiving celebrations of Gontor’s journey, Palestine was present not merely as the name of a friendly nation, but also through the applause, a keffiyeh, and a message to the younger generation that concern for the world can begin by preparing themselves to build their own nation into a stronger one. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (YA/TM)