Foreign Minister Sugiono: Indonesia's Participation In The Legal Process At ICJ Affirms Support For Palestine's Independence

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said Indonesia's participation in the trial at the International Court (ICJ), emphasized Indonesia's support for Palestinian independence.

This was conveyed by Foreign Minister Sugiono in a press statement after conveying the Indonesian Government's verbal views at ICJ, The Hague, Netherlands during the Advisory Opinion trial, Wednesday, April 30.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said the trial this time was a continuation of the resolution of the 79/232 UN General Assembly in December 2024, which asked the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion regarding Israel's obligations to the United Nations, international organizations and third countries operating in Palestine.

He said that Indonesia had also been a co-sponsor for the resolution of the General Assembly from the start.

"Indonesia's participation in this process is a form of Indonesia's support for Palestinian independence in all international forums," he said in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday, April 30 evening, adding that previously the Indonesian government had conveyed a written view on this matter in February.

The Foreign Minister further explained that there were three things that became a outline of the verbal views he conveyed.

First, Israel must comply with the Obligation to the United Nations, the International Organization and the Third State operating in Palestine.

This obligation arises based on international laws and UN charters, which regulate Israel has an obligation to respect, protect, and facilitate the United Nations, both assets, offices, and UN personnel wherever they are, including in Palestine.

As the occupation power, Israel is based on international law, humanitarian and Ham laws, it is mandatory to protect civil society in Palestine.

"They are also obliged to guarantee the basic needs of the Palestinian people, guaranteeing their basic rights including basic rights to gain access to health, education, welfare and other basic rights," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister.

International law also guarantees that basic facilities such as health and education should not be damaged or destroyed.

"Indonesia insists that Israel failed to fulfill international obligations," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

The next thing that outlines is that Israel fails to fulfill its obligations which prevent the Palestinian people from exercising their basic rights as a nation, including the right to self-determine.

"The Palestinian people have the right to live peacefully in their own homeland and also the right to determine political, socio-economic and cultural life," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

"I emphasize that before the ICJ, the right to carry out the self-determination of the Palestinian people is legal. The rights of the Palestinian people have been recognized by the United Nations through various resolutions, and have even been recognized by the ICJ in several decisions, including the ICJ Law Fatwa in 2004 and 2024," he explained.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said the right to carry out the self-determination of the Palestinian people is legal. The rights of the Palestinian people have been recognized by the United Nations through their various resolutions, and have even been recognized by the ICJ in several decisions, including the ICJ Law Fatwa in 2004 and 2024.

Finally, Indonesia encourages ICJ to issue a legal fatwa regarding the failure of Israel to fulfill its obligations as a member of the United Nations and as an Population Authority.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasized that ICJ has the authority to issue a legal fatwa requested by the UN General Assembly.

"Indonesia's participation in the legal process at ICJ once again confirms Indonesia's support for Palestinian independence. In fact, Indonesia provides this support in all international forums, both at the United Nations in New York, in Geneva, in various bilateral meetings and now, at the ICJ forum," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister.

"The world needs to open its eyes and take concrete actions to stop acts of violence that occur continuously and have caused a humanitarian crisis," he continued.

He added that Indonesia will not tire of asserting that the two-state solution is the only solution that must be fought for to realize peace and conflict resolution in Israel and Palestine.