Indonesian clerics issue decree boycotting Israel-linked firms

Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body issued a decree on Friday calling for a boycott of goods and services from companies that support Israel in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.

The religious decree (fatwa) by the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, said Muslims in the country must support the Palestinians' struggle against "Israeli aggression", while also declaring that support for Israel or its supporters is "haram", or against Islamic law.

"MUI call on every Muslim to avoid as much as possible transactions and use of Israel products and those that affiliated with Israel, as well as those who support colonialism and Zionism," Asrorun Niam Sholeh, an executive of the council, told reporters Friday.

"We cannot support the party that is at war with Palestine, including using products whose proceeds actually support acts of murder of the Palestinians."

Israel launched an offensive in Gaza after Hamas poured across the militarised border on October 7.

Then, Israel launched bombardment campaign and a ground invasion that the health ministry in Gaza says has killed more than 10,800 people, mostly civilians and many of them children.

Religious decrees (fatwa) have no legal force and are aimed at encouraging the devout in world's most populous Muslim-majority country against taking a certain course of action.

Indonesia, a supporter of Palestinian independence, has called for a resolution to the conflict based on internationally agreed parameters set by the United Nations, which include a two-state solution.