TNI Soldier Falls in Lebanon, HNW Urges RI to Evaluate and UN to Sanction Israel

MPR RI Deputy Chairman, M Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), has expressed deep condolences over the passing of Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldier, Praka Rico Pramudia. The late soldier was carrying out his constitutional duties under a United Nations (UN) mandate as a peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Previously, Praka Rico Pramudia sustained severe injuries from an Israeli tank attack on 29 March 2026. The attack also resulted in the deaths of three other TNI soldiers.

“The UN should impose sanctions on Israel, as reported by the Foreign Ministry and the UN Secretariat, as the perpetrator of the attack that killed four TNI soldiers and injured four others. Israel’s actions clearly violate international law regarding the prohibition on attacking non-combatants and UN personnel, as stipulated in the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1994 UN Personnel Safety Convention. In fact, such actions fall under the category of war crimes as regulated in Article 8 paragraph (2) letter b point iii of the Rome Statute,” HNW stated in his remarks on Monday (27/4/2026).

“Because they are present in Lebanon under the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission with full UN mandate, the UN must take responsibility for providing maximum protection and imposing harsh sanctions on Israel for attacking UN peacekeeping forces, to deliver justice and peace for the victims, their families, and the sending country,” he added.

HNW stated that Israel’s attack on the peacekeeping post guarded by TNI soldiers is not the first instance but has occurred repeatedly.

“In 2024, several TNI soldiers serving as peacekeepers in Lebanon also fell victim to Israeli attacks. And at that time, there were no sanctions from the UN whatsoever. Due to the lack of sanctions, Israel was free to continue its crimes, and now the Israeli attack has even caused fatalities: four TNI soldiers dead, four injured, and CCTV facilities damaged by Israeli soldiers,” said HNW.

“Therefore, it is entirely appropriate for the UN, as the mandating body, not only to condemn and conduct a thorough investigation, but also to act immediately, uphold the UN’s integrity, by imposing harsh sanctions on the perpetrator of war crimes and peace disruptor, namely Israel,” he continued.

Nevertheless, HNW fully supports the steps taken by the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) in continuously urging the UN to conduct a thorough, transparent, and accountable investigation into the case, through coordination with several countries.

“We support the Foreign Ministry’s steps, but we hope for follow-up action, namely the imposition of heavy sanctions on Israel, the perpetrator of the war crime. And so that Indonesia seriously evaluates its goodwill when its main citizens, namely the TNI, do not receive security protection guarantees. Because the Constitution not only mentions participation in bringing world peace, as in Lebanon, but also ‘protecting all Indonesian citizens’ including TNI members of UNIFIL in Lebanon,” he emphasised.

“Thus, if there is no security guarantee, and if the perpetrator who kills Indonesian citizens, especially from the TNI, is not subjected to harsh legal sanctions, Indonesia should consider, in order to protect its citizens, withdrawing those TNI troops,” HNW added.

HNW also appreciated the Foreign Ministry’s efforts to provide the best medical care to Praka Rico Pramudia, although his life could not be saved.

“The state must indeed be present to assist not only the victims but also the families left behind. This is one of the best forms of respect that the state can offer to the victims. Therefore, it would be very good if the title ‘Peace Hero’ is bestowed upon the TNI soldiers who fell in Lebanon as the highest form of national appreciation for those who carry out the constitutional mandate to maintain world peace and order,” he stated.

“But the state must still fulfil its other constitutional obligations, namely protecting all citizens and the Indonesian homeland so that they do not become victims of atrocities and war crimes like those committed by Israel,” he concluded.