Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has urged Indonesia to withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP), a peace council initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, citing concerns over its implications for Jakarta's foreign policy.
The coalition, whose members include Bhatara Ibnu Reza, executive director of the Democratic Judicial Reform (De Jure), argued that Israel's inclusion in the BoP would complicate Indonesia's diplomatic stance and its long-standing support for Palestinian independence.
"The potential membership of Indonesia in the BoP could be used to legitimize Israel's actions toward Palestine," Bhatara said in a statement issued on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Israel officially joined the BoP on February 11. Bhatara said Indonesia should reconsider its participation in order to maintain a neutral and principled position in international relations while pursuing an effective strategy to help resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Troop deployment proposal questioned
The coalition also criticized a proposal to deploy between 5,000 and 8,000 Indonesian peacekeeping personnel to Gaza under an International Stabilization Force (ISF) reportedly initiated by the BoP.
According to Bhatara, such a deployment would fall outside the framework of international law because it lacks a mandate from the UN Security Council as a formal UN peacekeeping mission.
He warned that sending Indonesian troops under the ISF mechanism could expose them to significant risks, particularly given Gaza's complex security landscape. The coalition also questioned the absence of broader Palestinian input in formulating the proposal.
"The coalition views the troop deployment through the ISF as potentially drawing Indonesia deeper into the Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict," he said.
Financial and political implications
In addition, the coalition raised concerns over Indonesia's reported financial commitment of Rp16 trillion to the BoP, arguing that such contributions, alongside troop deployments, may not align with the country's current economic priorities.
The group further cautioned that closer alignment with the United States through the BoP framework could weaken Indonesia's traditionally firm position on Israel. It maintained that alleged violations of international law should instead be addressed through legal mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court.
The coalition called on the international community to uphold human rights and humanitarian law, and urged accountability for alleged violations in Gaza, including through proceedings at the ICC.
As Indonesia currently serves as a member and president of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the coalition also asked the government to revisit the findings of the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict led by Richard Goldstone, known as the Goldstone Report (A/HRC/12/48), as part of broader international accountability efforts.
The coalition comprises De Jure, Imparsial, Centra Initiative, YLBHI, PBHI, Raksha Initiative, Amnesty International, KontraS, and HRWG.
Separately, Foreign Minister Sugiono has stated that Indonesia could withdraw from the Board of Peace if its objectives, including Palestinian independence, are not achieved.
Sugiono said the government has set several benchmarks for supporting peace in Gaza following Israel's military actions. Chief among them, he stressed, is the realization of Palestinian sovereignty.
"In the end, it must lead to the independence and sovereignty of Palestine," said Sugiono.
– Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2087553/why-civil-groups-are-pushing-indonesia-out-of-the-board-of-peac