JAKARTA: Indonesia will withdraw from the Board of Peace, initiated by US President Donald Trump, if it fails to support Palestinian independence, President Prabowo Subianto told Islamic scholars in Jakarta, state-run media reported on Friday.
The Indonesian leader conveyed the position during a meeting with more than 160 Islamic scholars at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Thursday evening, state-run Antara News reported, citing Cholil Nafis, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
The president is “determined to direct it (Board of Peace) toward Palestinian independence. He is ready to withdraw if the council fails to advocate for this cause,” Nafis told reporters after the meeting with Prabowo.
He said the Indonesian government intends to use its role in the forum to advocate for Palestinian interests.
Separately, Nafis suggested that Indonesia should prioritise diplomatic efforts through international institutions such as the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for the Palestinian cause.
Prabowo had previously raised the possibility of leaving the initiative during another meeting last month with religious leaders in Jakarta.
Last month, during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, DC, Prabowo pledged 8,000 or more troops to the International Stabilisation Force in Gaza. Trump announced the establishment of the “Board of Peace” on January 15 as part of his broader plan for Gaza, after a ceasefire agreement was reached on October 10 2025. The board was authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025.
Since a ceasefire agreement took effect last October, Israel has killed 618 Palestinians and wounded 1,663 in daily ceasefire violations involving strikes and gunfire.
The ceasefire followed the genocidal war launched by Israel in October 2023, that lasted two years and killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and wounded over 171,000, most of them women and children, and destroyed about 90 per cent of civilian infrastructure in the territory.
Sources report that the Indonesian government is closely monitoring the situation and will reassess its participation if the board does not align with its stated objectives. The decision to contribute troops for a Gaza stabilisation force remains a point of contention among domestic groups, who continue to express concern over its potential implications.
President Prabowo’s remarks reflect ongoing efforts to balance international commitments with domestic expectations regarding Indonesia’s support for the Palestinian people. Further developments are expected as the situation evolves.
