Antara, Jakarta – Thousands of people held a protest in front of the United States (US) Embassy in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning, April 5, 2026, to pay their respects to the three Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers, who were also a National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel and were killed in South Lebanon while carrying out a UN peacekeeping mission.
ANTARA's monitoring at the location at 8:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB) showed that the protest, initiated by the Islamic Mass Organizations Council (MOI), packed the west side of Jalan Merdeka Selatan.
The crowd even reached the National Monument (Monas) gate near Gambir Station. Some were seen carrying babies and small children.
The protesters, under the theme "Millions of Prayers for the Martyrs," wore robes, mostly white with Indonesian and Palestinian attributes.
Across from the US Embassy, next to a concrete barricade, a two-meter-high stage stood for speeches.
In the background of the stage, images of the three fallen TNI soldiers were displayed.
The three soldiers who died in action Major Inf (posthumously) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Sergeant (posthumously) M. Nur Ichwan, and Corporal (posthumously) Farizal Rhomadhon were part of the Indonesian peacekeeping force serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In addition to prayers for the three soldiers, the demonstration also raised several issues, including Palestinian independence.
The protesters also sang along to songs related to the theme of the demonstration. During the songs, Palestinian flags were waved by the protesters.
As of 8:45 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, protesters continued to arrive. Some only left briefly to get food, then returned to join the rest of the protesters.