JAKARTA - UIN International Relations Lecturer Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Dr. Teguh Santosa, assesses the suffering of the Palestinian people is still one of the most pressing issues in international politics. According to him, the atrocities of the Israeli army and tyrannical economic sanctions continue to trigger the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
The negotiations of the latest ceasefire mediated by the United States should receive serious attention from ASEAN. This is an opportunity to show concrete solidarity with the Palestinian people," Teguh said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 9.
He referred to media reports that said US President Donald Trump had hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss the end of the war. Israel is said to have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and Hamas responded positively. "If agreed, this will be a new starting point to reduce civilian suffering and start reconstruction," Teguh said.
Dr. Teguh Santosa, Lecturer for International Relations of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (IST)
He reminded Malaysia as Chair of the ASEAN 2025 has an important role in leading regional votes. The 58th ASEAN Minister of Foreign Affairs (AMM-58) meeting which took place July 8' 11 in Kuala Lumpur became a momentum for the consolidation of ASEAN's attitude.
Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, previously stated that the Palestinian issue would be one of the main agendas of AMM-58. At the same time, the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Cooperation between East Asian Countries for Palestine Development (CEAPAD IV) was also held to discuss humanitarian assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and capacity building of the Palestinian people.
"CEAPAD IV is expected to become the most significant platform for East Asian countries, including ASEAN, to express solidarity and support post-conflict reconstruction," said Teguh, who is also an international political observer.
ASEAN itself consistently supports the rights of the Palestinian people. Teguh reminded, on February 12, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a two-state solution according to UN resolutions. One of them is the Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/RES/ES-10/23 which was ratified on May 10, 2024 and agreed upon by all ASEAN members.
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In a speech to the opening of the ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, last May 25, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan also stated that ASEAN should not remain silent about the atrocities that befell the Gazan people. Malaysia is also determined to lead pressure to the international community not to be favoritism in dealing with humanitarian conflicts.
"Malaysia voiced this stance in the OKI forum in Jeddah in March. ASEAN needs to continue concrete steps urging Israel to comply with the ceasefire, open access to humanitarian aid, stop military operations, and begin the reconstruction process of Gaza," Teguh said.
He emphasized that ASEAN's firm stance would reflect regional commitments to universal humanitarian principles, sovereignty, and justice.
"AMM-58 is an opportunity for ASEAN to show itself as a block that is not only economically and geopolitically important, but also dignified from a moral perspective. The Palestinian issue must be a benchmark for the courage of ASEAN to speak out for the oppressed people," concluded Teguh.
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