On February 2, 2025, large-scale demonstrations erupted in 22 cities across Indonesia, demanding an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories. More than 15,000 people from various regions in East Java, organized under the Aliansi Muslim Bela Palestina, gathered in front of Grahadi Building in Surabaya. Other major turnouts were recorded in West Java, Central Java, and South Kalimantan (around 2,000 each) and Yogyakarta (around 1,500)

The protests, organized under the Aliansi Muslim Bela Palestina, began at 6:00 a.m. under the theme “Free Al-Aqsa and Palestine from Zionist Occupation.” While not officially led by Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), the mobilization patterns and rhetoric suggested the influence of the Islamist group. Protest flyers carried slogans such as “Defend Palestine, Fight Israel.” Protesters also chanted “Free, Free, Free Al-Aqsa! Expel, Expel, the Zionist Occupiers! With, Da’wah, Establish the Caliphate! Takbir… Allahu Akbar!” Some even sang the nasheed “Khilafah Telah Kembali“ (“The Caliphate Has Returned”), reinforcing the ideological undertones of HTI and its movement.

These protests were not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy on the part of HTI. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, HTI has sought to capitalize on the conflict to advance its ideological goals. Similar mobilizations have occurred globally, reinforcing how Islamist groups, including HTI, use geopolitical crises to strengthen their........

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