MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, signed on January 19, 2025, officially ended on March 18, raising fears of renewed conflict in the region.
Middle East political expert and Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon, Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, believed the situation could escalate further due to U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
“Trump’s administration strongly encourages Israel’s actions. He is a staunch supporter of Zionist Israel,” said Hajriyanto in the Ramadan Dialogue, hosted by the Muhammadiyah Study Center on Thursday, March 18.
Thohari pointed out that Trump has never supported the two-state solution, a widely recognized international approach to achieving peace.
“Trump has shown no enthusiasm for this idea. His 2020 peace proposal, ‘Peace to Prosperity,’ didn’t mention the two-state solution at all,” explained Thohari.
Hajriyanto described Trump’s proposal as heavily favoring Israel while putting Palestine at a significant disadvantage. He also noted that Trump has surrounded himself with officials who share his stance on the conflict.
One such figure is Elise Stefanik, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, who in a recent speech labeled nations supporting Palestine as terrorist sympathizers.
The Aftermath of the 2023 War: Gaza’s Devastation and Global Response
Reflecting on Israel’s attacks on Gaza since October 2023, Hajriyanto emphasized that the conflict is not just about religion but also stems from Israel’s unease over Palestine’s efforts to rebuild itself.
Experts estimate that the war has set Gaza’s infrastructure back by 75 to 85 years. The conflict has claimed 46,500 lives, with 60% of the casualties being women and children.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has classified these attacks as genocide and has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“These acts of genocide have sparked outrage, even in Western countries. Massive protests have erupted across major cities, including in the U.S., as people begin to recognize the humanitarian crisis,” noted Hajriyanto.
While Israel’s relentless attacks have devastated Palestine, they have also impacted Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon and Syria, as well as regions in Iraq and Iran.
Despite protests and resistance efforts from the Muslim world, Hajriyanto observed that Israel and the U.S. remain largely indifferent. However, he believes that shifting opinions in the West could have a significant impact on the situation.
“The most influential support for Palestinian independence will come from the West. Israel and the U.S. fear losing Western backing because Israel’s existence relies on Western colonial interests,” he explained.
He added that Israel was established through colonial and imperialist agendas, but as the West reconsiders its stance, there is renewed hope for Palestinian sovereignty.
