Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signaled that Indonesia is prepared to withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP)—a U.S.-backed Gaza peace initiative launched by President Donald Trump—if the body fails to advance Palestinian independence, according to statements made during a meeting with over 40 Muslim leaders and Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) representatives at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
During the four-hour meeting, Prabowo told Islamic organization leaders that Indonesia retains the sovereign right to abstain from BoP policies that contradict its principles and is ready to exit entirely if no changes can be made, with MUI Vice Chairman Cholil Nafis quoting the president as saying Indonesia is not obliged to follow the board when its actions fail to align with Indonesian positions on Palestinian statehood.
Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed Indonesia would consider withdrawal if the BoP fails to deliver immediate peace in Gaza, broader peace in Palestine, and ultimately full Palestinian independence and sovereignty, emphasizing these objectives constitute the core trajectory Indonesia aims to achieve through its controversial membership in the Trump-backed organization.
Indonesia's membership in the BoP has sparked significant domestic controversy, with critics arguing the board undermines international law, lacks Palestinian involvement, confers excessive power to Trump as permanent chair beyond his presidency, and notably omits any mention of an independent Palestinian state as a core objective—directly conflicting with Indonesia's longstanding constitutional mandate to support Palestinian self-determination.
Prabowo also offered to deploy up to 20,000 Indonesian peacekeepers to Trump's proposed International Stabilization Force for Gaza and committed to providing medical treatment for 2,000 injured Gazans in Indonesia, making Indonesia the only nation to pledge such extensive participation despite widespread skepticism from foreign policy scholars who describe joining the board as potentially the biggest blunder of Prabowo's presidency, risking Indonesia's credibility at home and abroad.
