Cholil Nafis: Prabowo Promises to Quit the Board of Peace if It Does Not Benefit Palestine

President Prabowo Subianto again promised to leave the Board of Peace. He made the remark during an iftar gathering with Islamic civil society organisations at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday evening, 5 March 2026.

Prabowo discussed the prospects while outlining government policies before invited guests. ‘Regarding the BoP, he is determined to pursue Palestine’s independence. If indeed it is not for Palestine, he is ready to resign,’ said Cholil Nafis, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Da’wah Council, after the iftar.

Prabowo, according to Cholil, is committed that all of his actions on the Board of Peace are for Palestine’s independence. Nevertheless, Cholil noted that Prabowo did not provide a timeframe for when he would resign from the Board if expectations are not met.

According to Cholin Nafis, the same promise was made previously in a meeting with Islamic organisations at the Istana last month. ‘The promise that the Board of Peace is for the benefit of Palestine,’ he said.

Another participant, Jimly Asshiddiqie, chairman of the Advisory Board of the ICMI, confirmed that Prabowo again stated his pledge to exit from the Board of Peace. ‘If it is proven not to align with the agenda we pursue, then we are ready to leave,’ he said.

The same information was also conveyed by Hanif Alatas, Secretary of the Shura Council of Front Persaudaraan Islam (FPI). ‘The President said that if there is no longer any benefit for Palestine, there is no chance to advance the Palestinian cause and it would not align with Indonesia’s national interests, the President will withdraw. His statement was like that,’ Hanif said.

That pledge is not the first time Prabowo has made it. In early February 2026, Prabowo also gathered Islamic civil society organisations at the Presidential Palace to discuss the Board of Peace. On that occasion, Prabowo delivered the same pledge.

At that time, Foreign Minister Sugiono said the government could withdraw from the Board of Peace. Indonesia would leave the US-created body if its aims, such as Palestine’s independence, were not achieved.

According to Sugiono, the government opened the option of withdrawal from the organisation if it did not align with the peace vision and mission. ‘Yes, if it really does not accord with what we want,’ Sugiono said at the Presidential Palace, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.