MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, CAIRO – Muhammadiyah reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Palestine through a gathering and discussion forum held at the Office of the Muhammadiyah Special Branch (PCIM) of Egypt on Wednesday, February 26.
The event brought together key figures from Muhammadiyah humanitarian wing, the Muhammadiyah Department for Charity Management (Lazismu), including Dadang Syarifudin from the Sharia Supervisory Board (DPS), the Secretary of Lazismu Gunawan Hidayat, and Director of Utilization and Distribution of Lazismu Ardhi Lutfi Kautsar. Representatives from Lazismu of Lampung, Yogyakarta, Central Java, and West Java also attended.
The forum served not only as a platform for strengthening connections but also as a reaffirmation of Muhammadiyah global humanitarian mission.
Dadang Syarifudin emphasized the importance of Tarjih—a principle ensuring that all actions align with Islamic teachings. He stressed that Tarjih should not remain a theoretical concept but should be applied in real-world actions that address both religious values and changing social conditions.
“Tarjih is not just an intellectual effort. It is real action based on Islamic principles and the realities of society,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Gunawan Hidayat outlined Muhammadiyah’s three-phase humanitarian response for post-ceasefire recovery in Palestine. The first phase focuses on emergency aid, ensuring immediate access to essentials such as food, medicine, and medical supplies.
“Our top priority is to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian people,” he said.
The second phase is rehabilitation, where Lazismu collaborates with international partners, including the Egyptian government and humanitarian organizations, to rebuild essential infrastructure. This includes setting up emergency hospitals, temporary schools, and clean water facilities to support recovery efforts.
“Lazismu is working with international partners, including ones in Egypt, to restore public facilities like emergency hospitals, schools, and water supply systems,” explained Gunawan.
The final phase is reconstruction, a long-term effort to rebuild the social and economic foundations of Palestine. Gunawan stressed that donations from Indonesians must be managed responsibly, ensuring that aid provides lasting benefits rather than just short-term relief.
“Our responsibility is not just to distribute aid but to ensure that it helps create a sustainable future for Palestine,” he added.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaborations between Lazismu and international organizations to streamline aid distribution, particularly through Egypt as a key entry point for humanitarian assistance to Palestine.
This partnership extends beyond humanitarian organizations to include academic institutions and global leaders, maximizing the impact of Muhammadiyah’s aid efforts.
Besides, Chairperson of Lazismu Lampung Syafrimen emphasized this point, stating, “We should build these connections as networks and entry points to strengthen aid distribution and support our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”
With a clear strategy and strong international cooperation, Muhammadiyah, through Lazismu, continues to expand its humanitarian mission for Palestine and beyond.
