Muhammadiyah's Humanitarian Engagement with Palestine: Civil Society, Islamic Organizations, and Transnational Humanitarian Action

Authors

  • Ilham Paku Utama Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65815/wz02yy03

Keywords:

Muhammadiyah, Palestine, humanitarian diplomacy, Islamic civil society, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesian Islamic civil society organizations have played an important role in humanitarian responses to international crises, including the situation in Palestine. Muhammadiyah, as one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, has developed humanitarian and educational initiatives that connect Indonesian civil society with communities affected by conflict. This article examines Muhammadiyah's engagement with Palestine as a form of transnational humanitarian action. Using qualitative institutional analysis, the study explores organizational policy, humanitarian programs, public advocacy, and cooperation with domestic and international partners. The article argues that Islamic civil society organizations can function as significant non-state actors in humanitarian diplomacy by translating religious solidarity into institutional programs involving education, healthcare, fundraising, and humanitarian assistance. At the same time, humanitarian engagement must maintain transparency, accountability, and professional standards to ensure that public solidarity produces sustainable benefits. The study proposes a civil-society humanitarian diplomacy framework emphasizing institutional accountability, community participation, needs-based assistance, and cross-border partnerships. The article concludes that Muhammadiyah's Palestine engagement demonstrates how Indonesian civil society can contribute to international humanitarian action while simultaneously shaping domestic public discourse concerning global justice and solidarity.

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Published

2026-02-27

How to Cite

Muhammadiyah’s Humanitarian Engagement with Palestine: Civil Society, Islamic Organizations, and Transnational Humanitarian Action. (2026). Palestine Issues on Indonesian Society, 3(1), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.65815/wz02yy03