Jakarta, May 1, 2025 – The Europe Today: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, stating that its actions have deprived the Palestinian people of their fundamental right to self-determination. His remarks came during a press briefing on Thursday following Indonesia’s presentation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on April 30.
“Israel’s failure to fulfill its obligations has prevented the Palestinian people from exercising their basic rights as a nation, including the right to self-determination,” Sugiono said.
The foreign minister emphasized that the Palestinian people possess the inalienable right to live peacefully in their homeland and determine their own political, economic, and cultural future. He stressed that this right is enshrined in multiple United Nations resolutions and recognized by the ICJ in its advisory opinions, including those issued in 2004 and 2024.
“In my statement before the ICJ, I reiterated that these rights are not abstract principles—they are grounded in international law and must be protected,” Sugiono noted.
Sugiono also expressed concern that Israel’s continuous disregard for its legal obligations not only perpetuates suffering among Palestinians but also fundamentally undermines the framework of international law.
“Israel’s non-compliance has caused grave humanitarian consequences and obstructs the realization of the rights that international law is meant to uphold,” he stated.
Indonesia has urged the ICJ to issue a new advisory opinion addressing Israel’s responsibilities as both a UN member and the occupying power in Palestine. “I emphasized to the ICJ that an advisory opinion must be issued and that the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, must be protected,” he said.
Sugiono underlined that Indonesia’s participation in the ICJ proceedings is a reflection of its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause—a commitment that has been consistently demonstrated in multilateral forums and bilateral engagements.
He further expressed hope that Indonesia’s legal arguments, alongside those submitted by other concerned parties, would help guide ICJ judges toward delivering a fair and principled decision that strengthens the enforcement of international law and alleviates the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
