Hotria Mariana, Aditya Mulyawan – Thousands of women from various civil society organisations and communities gathered for a peaceful demonstration titled "One Million Women for Gaza" in Jakarta on Sunday July 6. The action marked a new phase in the solidarity movement for Palestine, focusing on a strategy to boycott products affiliated with Israeli Zionism.
The action, which was initiated by the Central Leadership of Islamic Women and the Defend Palestine Indonesian People's Alliance (ARIBP), took up the theme "Women's Economic Boycott Against Pro-Israel Products". The movement represents a shift in the strategy of struggle from mere mass action to concrete action through consumer influence.
In a press release received by Kompas.com on Monday July 7, the ARIBP-Islamic Women emphasised that consumption is a form of political position and every rupiah spent has a moral and humanitarian impact.
#SwitchProducts campaign
One of the initiatives highlighted at the action was the #GantiProduct (#SwitchProducts) campaign. This campaign encourages the public to prioritise local products, particularly those from women-run micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
As is known, a number of organisations have previously released lists of products to avoid due to alleged links with Israeli Zionism. One such organisation is the Indonesian Muslim Consumer Foundation (YKMI).
Not only that, the peaceful demonstration was also enlivened by an MSME bazaar, the distribution of educational materials related to the Palestinian issue and the signing of the National Boycott Declaration as a form of mutual commitment.
The organisers stated that the event also aimed to strengthen alternative economic networks based on local halal (permissible under Islamic law) products and empower women economically.
Attended by people from all walks of life
The solidarity action was joined by participants from various different backgrounds including teachers, students, the online motorcycle taxi community and even national figures and influencers. Their presence demonstrated the movement's inclusiveness and openness to all people.
In a joint statement, the participants stated that the struggle to support Palestine is a form of concern for humanity.
In a speech, Geater Bogor Muslim Women coordinator Finda Musfindayani highlighted the crucial role of women in the struggle. She stated that violence against Palestinian civilians, especially women and children, requires concrete action from the international community, including the Indonesian people.
"What can we do as women? Is prayer enough?", Finda asked in a speech.
She believes that a boycott could be part of the solution to reduce the impact of funding for aggression in the region.
"By not buying or using certain products, we are already playing a part in stopping the flow of funds that can be used for acts of violence", she said.
This action also emphasised that forms of support for Palestine are not limited to demonstrations or prayers, but can also be realised through collective strength in determining consumer choices.
The organisers hope that the movement will serve as a reminder that every economic decision, no matter how small, has an impact on the larger humanitarian struggle.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Kampanye #GantiProduk Jadi Bentuk Dukungan Perempuan Indonesia untuk Palestina".]
