Prabowo Believes Indonesia Can Influence Board of Peace for Palestinian Independence

President Prabowo Subianto is confident that Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace (BoP) could influence this US-backed international body to realise an independent Palestine.

Since Indonesia officially joined the BoP on 22 January 2026, various criticisms have emerged from civil society, academics, and Islamic organisations. Criticism intensified following a joint US-Israel military assault on Iran, one of Palestine’s key supporters.

Prabowo reiterated Indonesia’s position during an exclusive interview with international media Bloomberg over the weekend. For Prabowo, Indonesia’s participation aims to achieve an independent Palestine through a two-state solution.

“If we are within it (the BoP), we can still influence and work towards a long-term solution, which we believe is an independent Palestine, a two-state solution,” Prabowo said in Hambalang, West Java, according to a statement from the Indonesian Government Communication Agency on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

However, Prabowo stated that plans to deploy Indonesian military personnel to the Gaza Strip through the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under the Board of Peace’s command are currently suspended. Additionally, all discussions related to the Board of Peace have also been postponed due to escalating conflict in the Middle East region.

He emphasised that all parties involved in the conflict must be willing to engage in dialogue. According to Prabowo, these dialogue efforts aim to end the war. “My advice is always to seek peaceful options,” Prabowo said.

Global geopolitical tensions escalated after the US and Israel suddenly attacked Iran on 28 February 2026. The joint military strike on Iranian airspace caused infrastructure damage and civilian casualties.

The US-Israel assault also killed several leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently retaliated by deploying missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military facilities across the Middle East.

Initially, the US and Israel claimed the preemptive strike was necessary to counter what they considered threats from Iran’s nuclear programme, but they subsequently stated they wanted to see a change of power in Iran.