Indonesia has voiced strong support for the United Kingdom’s landmark decision to formally recognize the State of Palestine this September, describing it as a critical step toward achieving full Palestinian statehood and reviving momentum for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) emphasized that the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereign statehood is non-negotiable under international law. The ministry urged other nations to follow the UK’s lead and grant Palestine unconditional recognition.
“Indonesia calls on all countries to follow the UK’s lead and unconditionally recognize a free and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the statement read.
The move by the UK, as reported by The Guardian, comes in response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as the "increasingly intolerable" situation on the ground. Starmer’s cabinet, under mounting pressure from both domestic constituencies and international allies, approved a roadmap for peace after emergency talks were held earlier this week.
Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Starmer said, “Ultimately, the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement. Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, but right now, that goal is under pressure like never before.”
He further stated that the time for action was now, explaining, “I have always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution. With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”
The UK’s announcement marks a significant shift in international diplomacy. With the exception of one, nearly all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have now affirmed support for Palestinian statehood—signaling growing global consensus and potentially clearing a path for Palestine’s full UN membership.
Meanwhile, UN-backed experts have warned that Gaza is facing a “worst-case scenario of famine,” as the World Food Program (WFP) declared the hunger crisis the worst seen globally in decades. The situation has been exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on aid, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 60,000 deaths in the conflict—nearly half of them women and children.
Although Israel has denied its military operations caused famine, it has acknowledged significantly restricting aid convoys during the 22-month-long war, including a complete halt for six weeks in early stages and again between March and mid-May this year.
Indonesia reiterated that recognition of Palestine should not be contingent on political negotiations or conditional agreements, asserting that the Palestinian people’s right to a sovereign state is rooted in long-standing international principles and justice.
The latest developments underscore a pivotal moment in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as more countries move to formalize support for Palestinian statehood amid growing global concern over the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
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