Reasons Behind Coalition's Demand for Indonesia to Withdraw from Board of Peace
The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has urged Indonesia to withdraw its membership from the Board of Peace (BoP) established by United States President Donald Trump. Coalition member and Director of Democratic Judicial Reform (De Jure) Bhatara Ibnu Reza stated that Israel’s participation would only complicate Indonesia’s foreign policy and involvement in resolving the Palestinian conflict.
“Indonesia’s membership in the BoP could potentially be used as legitimacy to justify all of Israel’s actions against Palestine,” he said in an official statement on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Israel officially joined the BoP on 11 February. Bhatara said Indonesia must withdraw from the BoP to reaffirm its neutral position in international relations while seeking the most effective strategy to pursue a resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict.
The coalition also highlighted the policy of deploying approximately 5,000 to 8,000 TNI peacekeeping troops to Gaza as an International Stability Force (ISF) initiated by the BoP. According to Bhatara, the situation would become extremely complicated as the deployment falls outside the framework of international law and lacks a mandate from the UN Security Council as a UN Peacekeeping Force.
Bhatara argued the situation would also endanger the deployed TNI troops, as the ISF could take over social services and security in Gaza from Hamas, which has controlled the territory for 19 years. Moreover, the proposal was formulated without input from the Palestinian side and only offers two options for Hamas in the strip.
“The coalition views that the troop assistance sent through the ISF would actually draw Indonesia into its own problems within the vortex of the Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict,” he said.
The coalition also scrutinised the substantial contribution Indonesia has made to the BoP. Indonesia’s provision of Rp 16 trillion and troop deployment appears contradictory given the country’s current economic difficulties.
Furthermore, he said Indonesia’s stance, which leans too heavily towards the United States through the BoP, makes it difficult to remain firm against Israel. Israel, he argued, should be prosecuted through the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The coalition also called on the international community to continue respecting human rights and principles of humanitarian law, and to bring Netanyahu before the ICC.
As a member and President of the UN Human Rights Council, the coalition urged the Indonesian Government to revisit the findings of the UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission regarding human rights violations in Gaza, led by Richard Joseph Goldstone, known as the Goldstone Report (A/HRC/12/48).
This effort would serve as a form of international accountability for human rights violations committed by Israel and would follow up on the report in accordance with international human rights mechanisms.
The coalition comprises De Jure, Imparsial, Centra Initiative, YLBHI, PBHI, Raksha Initiative, Amnesty International, Kontras, and HRWG.
Foreign Minister Sugiono previously stated that the government could withdraw from Board of Peace membership. Indonesia would leave the US-initiated body if its objectives, such as Palestinian independence, are not achieved.
According to Sugiono, the government is open to withdrawing from the organisation if it does not align with the vision and mission of peace. “Yes, if it indeed does not align with what we want,” Sugiono said at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
Sugiono said the Indonesian government has a number of benchmarks for building peace in Gaza, Palestine, following Israeli aggression. First, he said, is the current peaceful situation in Gaza and the peaceful situation in Palestine in general.
The ultimate goal, he said, is Palestinian independence. “Ultimately, it will be the independence and sovereignty of Palestine,” said the Gerindra Party politician.