Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has defended Indonesia’s participation in the international Board of Peace, saying the forum can be used to secure tangible assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. According to the Indonesian government’s public communications, Prabowo has framed the country’s involvement as a way to channel more effective humanitarian aid and support long-term peace efforts for Palestine.
As reported by the Government of Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretariat, officials describe the Board of Peace as an international body tasked with overseeing post-conflict stabilization and rehabilitation in Gaza. Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiono has said Indonesia joined the board to reinforce its longstanding commitment to Palestinian independence and peace through multilateral diplomacy. According to Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, the seat is intended to improve the continuity and volume of aid flows into Gaza, where a significant share of shipments has struggled to reach civilians.
Prabowo’s emphasis on using the Board of Peace to help Palestinians comes amid continued destruction and humanitarian needs in Gaza following the prolonged Israel–Hamas war. According to Antara News, Indonesian officials see the board as a platform to coordinate humanitarian access and to back political solutions that could lead to a sustainable ceasefire and reconstruction. Government statements underscore that Indonesia’s policy remains rooted in support for full Palestinian statehood and rejection of occupation.
Context and reactions: How is Prabowo’s stance being received?
Indonesia’s membership in the Board of Peace has sparked debate at home, particularly among Islamic organizations and civil society groups. According to reporting cited by The Times of Israel, some Muslim groups and experts have criticized the decision, arguing that joining a body associated with major powers and including Israel could undercut Indonesia’s traditional pro-Palestine posture. They fear the forum may not deliver concrete progress for Palestinians despite high-profile meetings and pledges.
Government communicators have said Prabowo met with leaders of Islamic organizations to explain his rationale and to reassure them that Indonesia’s position on Palestinian rights will not change. In those briefings, officials conveyed that Prabowo is prepared to withdraw from the Board of Peace if it fails to deliver benefits for Palestinians or undermines Indonesian interests. According to the same report, an Islamic Brotherhood Front representative said Prabowo committed to leaving the board if it does not serve Palestinian and Indonesian goals.
At the same time, Indonesian ministers have highlighted actions they say demonstrate a concrete orientation toward Palestinian needs. Antara News reports that Prabowo has engaged in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, including visits to several countries and participation in top-level meetings, to widen channels for humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Officials argue that being inside the Board of Peace allows Indonesia to advocate from within for Palestinian concerns in a forum where Israel is present but Palestinian representatives are absent.
Supporting details and ongoing initiatives
According to Antara News, Coordinating Minister Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has said Indonesia will leverage its place on the Board of Peace to push for smoother, more predictable access for humanitarian convoys to Gaza. He noted that data showing less than 30 percent of aid shipments reaching their destinations underscores the need for political and logistical solutions at the international level. Indonesian authorities have presented this as one of the key reasons for seeking a seat on the board.
The Cabinet Secretariat has described Indonesia’s participation as part of a broader diplomatic track that includes advocacy at the United Nations and international economic forums. In remarks delivered in Switzerland after the World Economic Forum in Davos, the foreign minister reiterated that Indonesia’s guiding objective is to help enable a just and lasting peace for Palestinians while upholding international law. These statements are consistent with Indonesia’s longstanding policy recognizing Palestine and supporting a two-state solution based on agreed international parameters.
Separately from the Board of Peace, Indonesian officials and media have reported on Jakarta’s willingness to provide medical treatment, evacuation, and other humanitarian support for Palestinians. VOI’s English-language coverage has highlighted Prabowo’s statements about Indonesia’s readiness to evacuate Palestinian patients and orphans as part of its broader solidarity efforts, although these initiatives are not limited to the board framework. Officials present these steps as evidence that Indonesia’s engagement is meant to be practical rather than symbolic.
Implications and future developments: What could happen next?
According to statements reported by The Times of Israel, Prabowo has made clear that Indonesia’s continued presence on the Board of Peace depends on whether it produces real gains for the Palestinian people. This conditional approach suggests that Jakarta may reassess its involvement if the forum is seen as ineffective or politically costly at home. Domestic scrutiny from religious bodies and activists could further influence how long Indonesia remains on the board and how assertively it pushes its agenda.
Looking ahead, Indonesian ministers say they intend to use upcoming Board of Peace meetings and international gatherings to advocate for better humanitarian access, stronger protections for civilians, and progress toward Palestinian self-determination. Whether the board can deliver on these aims will depend on cooperation among its members, including states with sharply differing positions on the conflict. For now, Prabowo’s message that “we can help the Palestinian people” through the Board of Peace signals a strategy of engagement from within, backed by the option of withdrawal if those efforts do not translate into concrete results.
In sum, Indonesia’s leadership is presenting its role on the Board of Peace as a tool to secure more effective humanitarian and political support for Palestinians, while publicly tying that participation to measurable benefits on the ground. The coming months of board activity, diplomatic outreach, and domestic debate will test whether that calculation holds and how Indonesia balances international engagement with its established pro-Palestine stance.
