Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed Indonesia's support for Palestinian independence by saying that Jakarta's policy in the Middle East, including its participation in the United States-led Board of Peace, will hinge on Palestinian approval and whether it delivers tangible benefits for Palestine.
During a sit-down with senior journalists and experts at his residence in Hambalang, West Java, on March 17, Prabowo offered a detailed public account on Indonesia's decision to join the Board of Peace in January, emphasizing that his approach has been driven by a commitment to support the Palestinian struggle.
Recalling the international community's sense of hopelessness amid the Israeli invasion of Gaza, Prabowo said Muslim leaders, including himself, saw a "small crack of opportunity" open up in September 2025, when US President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point peace plan recognizing Palestinian aspirations for independence and a call for a ceasefire.
After further discussions and the United Nations' approval in November for the formation of the Board of Peace to oversee the implementation of Trump's plan, Prabowo claimed he concluded that Indonesia, home to one of the world's largest Muslim population, "must have leverage" in the process.
"I was carrying forward Indonesia's longstanding struggle in defending the interests of Palestine," Prabowo said during the sit-down, a recording of which was uploaded to his YouTube channel on Thursday.
The President added that he had voiced Indonesia's readiness to send peacekeeping troops during discussions with Western leaders, provided all parties, especially Palestinian leaders and Hamas militant group in Gaza, agreed.
Prabowo then clarified that Indonesia would not contribute financially to the board, including the US$1 billion fee required to secure a permanent seat at the platform.
"There has never been any financial commitment. Indonesia is not part of what is called the 'founding donors' of the board. We are ready to contribute to the peacekeeping mission," the President asserted, explaining that Jakarta would explore options outside the board should it be interested in contributing to Gaza's reconstruction.
The President also asserted that Indonesia's membership in the Board of Peace was not unconditional, with the government continuing to assess current geopolitical dynamics and the board's role.
Should it deem the platform to be "counterproductive" to peace and Palestinian interests or incompatible with Indonesia's national caveats on non-combat involvement, the country will terminate its membership.
The ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran is a "very significant" assessment point for Indonesia, Prabowo said.
"We are moving forward in a very careful manner. We are pausing our plans to send troops [to Gaza], and we continue to synchronize with our partners, including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey."
Also on March 19, the day the sit-down recording was published, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported a claim from Israeli military officials that around 500 Indonesian troops are expected to enter Gaza by May to help efforts in disarming Hamas.
The report also mentioned that the Indonesian force will be stationed in the Rafah area in southern Gaza. Haaretz also reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) assessed that the Indonesian troops would be unlikely to be able to confront Hamas' military capabilities or oversee its disarmament since it is not expected to operate in areas where Hamas has retained control.
In the past months, Indonesia has been scrutinized for its decision to join the Board of Peace.
Such a move was widely seen by both its strong pro-Palestinian grassroots and the international community as potentially undermining Palestinian self-determination and sidelining the UN, whose dialogue-led mechanisms have in recent years been weakened by the rise of unilateral actions by major powers.
Amid waves of criticism from the public, the government has on multiple occasions emphasized its ultimate partiality in favor of Palestine, underlining that it will continue to communicate closely with Palestinian leaders to ensure the peace process remains inclusive.
On Monday, Prabowo held a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of the former's Idul Fitri outreach with world Muslim leaders. During the call, the two leaders reportedly shared holiday greetings as well as discussing recent developments in the Palestinian territories and the broader Middle East region.
Abbas also praised Indonesia's steadfast support for Palestine and expressed gratitude for humanitarian aid Indonesia had sent to Gaza throughout Israel's military offensive in the territory since October 2023, as reported by the Palestinian state news agency WAFA.
Prabowo reaffirmed to Abbas Indonesia's continued support for Palestinian statehood, pledging continued coordination with Palestine on post-war recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.
Prabowo's conversation with Abbas was part of his silaturahmi (strengthening kinship) with the Palestinian leader to mark the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
"This silaturahmi is aimed at maintaining our closeness [with Palestine] and strengthening our bilateral ties, especially during this significant Idul Fitri moment," Teddy said as quoted in a statement issued on Monday.
Source: https://asianews.network/indonesia-president-prabowo-affirms-support-for-palestinian-cause