President Prabowo Signals Possible Exit from Gaza Board of Peace

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has opened the option for Indonesia to withdraw from the Gaza Board of Peace (BoP) if the body fails to advance the goal of Palestinian independence.

President Prabowo made the statement while responding to concerns raised by representatives of Islamic organizations and Muslim leaders, including Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy chairman KH Cholil Nafis, during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

“He (the President) said that by joining the BoP, Indonesia can choose not to follow decisions that do not align with our views. Secondly, if changes cannot be made, President Prabowo is ready to leave the BoP. That’s how I understood it,” Cholil told reporters after the meeting, as quoted by Antara.

During the dialogue, attended by more than 40 representatives of Islamic organizations and Muslim figures, Prabowo explained Indonesia’s rationale for joining the Board of Peace. He also received questions and input from several clerics.

Cholil, who attended the meeting, expressed his skepticism about the BoP directly to the President. He also urged Prabowo to ensure that any Indonesian peacekeeping forces deployed to Gaza would not be positioned against Palestinians fighting for their independence.

“We don’t want just a false peace while they [the Palestinian people] are colonized. We want them to live in peace and be independent,” Cholil said, reiterating MUI’s position to Prabowo.

Responding to the input from MUI, Prabowo stressed that Indonesia would not hesitate to exit the BoP if its policies diverged from Indonesia’s principles.

“The President said that if there are policies that do not align with our position, Indonesia will abstain or stay absent. Then, if it truly does not fit and Indonesia cannot do anything, he is ready to leave the BoP,” Cholil said, recounting Prabowo’s remarks.

In a separate statement at the same location, Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed the President’s stance, saying Indonesia would withdraw from the BoP if the forum failed to move in the direction Indonesia expects.

“Yes, if it does not align with what we want: first, peace in Gaza in particular. Then peace in Palestine more broadly, and ultimately Palestinian independence, and sovereignty. I think that is the trajectory we want to achieve,” Minister Sugiono said. ***