Hundreds of campuses in Indonesia inspired by global student protests to renew rallies against Israel

Muslim-majority Indonesia has seen numerous large-scale pro-Palestine rallies since Israel began its war on Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas, but the campus demonstrations were the most widespread, coordinated protests the country has seen in recent months.

The rallies took place at 172 higher education institutes affiliated with Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organisation, and were carried out by both students and school officials.

“We ask the UN to facilitate an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine,” Dr Ma’ruf Sya’ban, vice-chancellor of the University of Muhammadiyah Surabaya, told protesters at his campus on Tuesday.

“We strongly condemn Western countries like the US, the UK, France and Germany for their continued support of the Zionist state of Israel.”

Pro-Palestinian student protests have erupted in the US and other parts of the world including Australia, Canada, France, India and the UK. The organisers of the latest campus protests in Indonesia said they were influenced by their example.

“We chose to act in solidarity with students elsewhere who are sick and tired of Israeli atrocities against Palestinians,” said Wahyudi Kholilullah, president of the executive board of students at Surabaya’s University of Muhammadiyah.

“Our hope is for other Indonesian universities to follow suit and hold their own (pro-Palestinian) protests,” Wahyudi said.

01:54

KFC Malaysia temporarily closes some outlets amid anti-Israel boycott

But in addition to Israel and the usual Western targets, the Muhammadiyah rallies also took aim at Muslim organisations that protesters feel have not been doing enough.

Professor Ma’mun Murod Al Barbasy, chancellor of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta, claimed the