ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia regrets that the High Contracting Parties (HCP) Conference to the Fourth Geneva Convention could not be held and fulfilled its mandate.
The 2025 HCP Conference was tasked by the UN General Assembly to discuss the steps needed to implement the Geneva Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with Article 1 of the 4th Geneva Convention.
Indonesia and the OIC countries reject the conference with an unbalanced process because it fails to highlight Israel’s failure to carry out its obligations under the Geneva Convention and its illegal occupation.
Indonesia will continue to be consistent in its position so far to fight for the rights of the Palestinian people and encourage Israel’s compliance with international law, especially International Humanitarian Law.
Encourage Solidarity and Active Role of OIC
Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono attended the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday, March 7, 2025. Sugiono called for the importance of strengthening solidarity and unity of OIC countries regarding the Palestinian issue.
Starting his statement, Sugiono said that under the leadership of President Prabowo, Indonesia will continue to encourage various real efforts to ensure that the Palestinian people get justice.
“Solidarity and unity for Palestine are a must. The Palestinian issue must unite us, not divide us,” he said.
Sugiono proposed three important steps in responding to the urgent situation in Palestine.
First, continuing the ceasefire agreement. He encouraged OIC countries and the international community to continue to pressure Israel to respect the agreement, and ensure the continuation of negotiations to the second phase.
“The availability of access to humanitarian aid is an important part of the First Phase Ceasefire Agreement. This should not be used as a bargaining position in negotiations for the second phase,” said Sugiono.
“Israel’s decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza is a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law,” he added.
Furthermore, Sugiono invited OIC member countries to play a greater role in restoring UNRWA’s capacity and to support efforts to issue a legal fatwa (advisory opinion) by the International Court against Israel which is currently underway.
Second, the day-after plan, especially in efforts to restore and reconstruct Gaza. Sugiono reiterated Indonesia’s position which condemns and strongly rejects all forms of forced displacement of Palestinians under any pretext.
He encouraged the OIC to play its important role in ensuring that the Palestinian reconstruction efforts are truly in accordance with the interests of the Palestinian people.
In this regard, Sugiono conveyed Indonesia’s support for the Cairo Declaration which was recently agreed upon by Arab countries in Cairo on March 4, 2025.
“Indonesia is ready to contribute to the Gaza reconstruction efforts, by collaborating closely with community organizations,” Sugiono emphasized.
He also conveyed Indonesia’s readiness to place peacekeeping troops in Gaza, if there is a decision and mandate from the UN.
Third, continue to strengthen efforts to realize the Two-State Solution. “I see international support continuing to flow for the Two-State Solution. We need to strengthen these efforts in various international forums including the UN, OIC and Arab League,” Sugiono invited.
“We need to continue to urge the UN Security Council so that they carry out their duties, and can produce resolutions for the implementation and realization of the Two-State Solution,” he added.
In addition to the Palestinian issue, the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also discussed the current situation in Syria. In his statement, Sugiono said that Indonesia fully supports the Syrian people in determining the direction of Syria’s future development, which is democratic and inclusive, with a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process.
The Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was attended by 46 OIC member countries, 27 of which were represented by foreign ministers such as from Saudi Arabia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan. Also present were state ministers from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The conference agreed on two resolutions, namely the Resolution on the Situation of Palestine which contains support for the reconstruction process of Gaza, and the Resolution on the restoration of Syria’s membership in the OIC, which was previously frozen since 2012. (AT Network)
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