M Rafi Azhari, Yudono Yanuar, Tim Tempo.Co, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – A year into Israeli aggression in Gaza that intensified on October 7, 2023, the world remains a witness to the humanitarian crisis that has occurred in the enclave. The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, sparks a wave of global solidarity, including in Indonesia.
One of the most prominent examples of such solidarity is the call for boycotts against products affiliated with Israel.
Various civil organizations, including religious groups and activists, have called for boycotts against products deemed supportive of the genocide conducted by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Boycott calls in Indonesia
Indonesian Muslim Consumers Foundation (YKMI) is one of the most consistent organizations in the country that encouraged Israeli boycotts.
On the one-year commemoration of the Gaza war, YKMI Executive Director Ahmad Himawan stated that the call for boycotts must continue to be carried out massively as a form of real support for the struggle of the Palestinian people.
"YKMI will continue to be at the forefront, encouraging the public to consistently boycott Israeli-affiliated products according to the recommendations of the MUI," said YKMI Executive Director Ahmad Himawan in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday, October 7, 2024.
Ahmad Himawan also explained that the boycott action has proven effective in suppressing companies affiliated with Israel, with declining sales and shares value.
During the protest in front of the United States Embassy in Jakarta, Himawan also reminded the public not to use certain products that are considered to provide economic contributions to Israel and its allies.
YKMI called for the boycotts of ten major brands, including Starbucks, Danone, Nestle, Zara, Kraft Heinz, Unilever, Coca Cola Group, McDonald's, Mondelez, and Burger King.
Support from the Indonesian Ulema Council
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also taken a firm stance in supporting the movement to boycott products affiliated with Israel. The MUI Chairperson for Da'wah and Ukhuwah, Muhammad Cholil Nafis, said that support for Palestine remains a common agreement despite differences in opinion regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict.
MUI, he said, respects these differences. "However, the differences must not eliminate the agreement of standing with the Palestinian struggle. Differences should not divide us," he said.
MUI itself has issued several fatwas or rulings regarding support for Palestine, including Fatwa No. 83, which emphasizes that supporting Israeli aggression against Palestine is haram or forbidden.
As reported by Antara, this ruling is reinforced by the recommendation that Indonesian people must prioritize using domestic products and avoid products affiliated with Israel.
Political figures also strengthened the call for boycotts against Israeli-affiliated products in Indonesia. Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sukamta, for example, fully supports the boycott movement as a form of international solidarity against Israel's heinous actions in Palestine.
Sukamta also emphasized that he would continue to fight for justice for the Palestinian people and urged the Indonesian government to take a more active role in international efforts to end the Gaza war and the humanitarian crisis that occurs in the region.