FISIP Online – The International Relations Laboratory at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Political Science (FISIP) UIN Jakarta held a discussion with the theme “Analisis Krisis Gaza, Palestina dari Berbagai Perspektif”. The event took place at the Aula Madya of FISIP UIN Jakarta, Friday (10/20/2023).

This event featured speakers from FISIP UIN Jakarta. They are Robi Sugara (Head of the International Relations Program, FISIP UIN Jakarta, Lecturer in International Security), Irfan Hutagalung (Lecturer in International Law), and Ahmad Alfajri (Lecturer in International Relations Theory).

Irfan stated that International Law asserts that a country should not acquire the territory of another country through violence. However, Israel occupies Palestine.

He also mentioned that Israel relocates its citizens to Palestinian territory. He added that this action violates international humanitarian law (Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). According to him, individuals under oppression have the right to take up arms under international law. "Hamas was born out of Israel's actions," he emphasized.

On the same occasion, Robi Sugara argued that Israel could take over Palestine entirely based on a strategic assessment. However, there are several reasons why Israel has failed to control Palestine.

Robi conveyed that Israel rejects the two-state solution, where Palestine coexists with Israel as a sovereign state. The next reason, he continued, is that Israel pursues a conflict reduction policy. "Israel broadens Palestine's freedom to engage in economic transactions to make it highly dependent," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Alfajri observed that the Israel-Palestine conflict has not found a strategic solution in the past seventy years. However, Ahmad believes that there are several distinct aspects of the current conflict.

Ahmad explained, firstly, there is a change in geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics, including Middle Eastern countries starting to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

Secondly, Ahmad revealed that Israel officially declared war on Hamas. This conflict, he said, also sparked a war on social media aimed at garnering support for both Hamas and Israel from the public.

He also disclosed that these events have several consequences. The first consequence, according to Ahmad, is that the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) needs to be revisited. R2P does not currently encompass rules regarding one country committing genocide against another. "Second, this conflict will be new ammunition to awaken dormant cells," he expressed. (Source: lpm institut)