The Tamesis
January 23, 2026
jakarta – Indonesia joined the Gaza Peace Council on Thursday, raising fresh concerns that Jakarta may be forced to accept a U.S. agenda for control in the war-torn territory amid concerns it could deviate from or even compete with existing U.N. mechanisms to restore peace.
President Prabowo Subianto signed Indonesia’s membership of the board of directors during a launch ceremony held by US President Donald Trump during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
This comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed earlier in the day that Indonesia would accept Trump’s invitation along with the Alliance of Islamic World Countries including Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The creation of the committee was first proposed in November as part of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2803. The commission is a U.S.-driven group that oversees the territory’s post-conflict management and reconstruction.
“[As] Approved by United Nations Security Council resolutions, [the board is] Aimed at consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza and advancing a just and lasting peace based on Palestinian rights to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law,” the ministry said.
But with the details and mechanics of the peace council still largely unclear, and Palestinian voices widely seen as underrepresented in its structure, experts criticized Indonesia’s decision to join the council as “hasty.”
“It’s a slippery slope. It’s not clear whether the council actually intends to manage the Palestinian issue or achieve peace, let alone advance a two-state solution,” Lena Alexandra, director of the International Relations Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country and a long-time supporter of the Palestinian struggle, has advocated a two-state solution and has no diplomatic ties with Israel.
“It is unclear how the committee can pressure Israel to cease violence. Accepting this invitation without deeper review is problematic and potentially counterproductive to support for the Palestinian struggle,” Lina said.
lack of public consultation
CSIS researchers pointed to a lack of public consultation before the peace council announced its decision.
“This move was hasty and hasty and inevitably raises questions as to whether it is simply an attempt to appease Trump while Indonesia negotiates a tariff deal,” Lina said.
Indonesia is currently negotiating with Washington to finalize a 19% tariff trade deal. Although Jakarta aims to complete negotiations by the end of this month, the deal barely came together last year and uncertainty remains.
Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, the executive of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, said he was “not aware” of any talks with the government about joining the council.
“It must be ensured that the initiative truly supports a just and sustainable peace in Palestine and does not serve merely as a political tactic for Palestinians,” Ahmed said. [US] or overlap with existing UN policy”.
potential overlap
While the commission is technically backed by a UN mechanism, Ahmed Rizki Omar, an international relations expert at Aberystwyth University, said the commission’s charter overlaps in many ways with the remit of the UN Security Council.
He highlighted the council’s charter, which allows it to “manage active conflicts and post-ceasefire stabilization”, which directly overlaps with the Security Council’s core mandate to address threats to international peace and security, including ceasefires and implementation measures.
The charter also gives the commission powers to coordinate humanitarian access reconstruction efforts, which are already overseen by multiple UN agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
“The Peace Council is not just concerned with peace in Gaza,” Omar said. “It is also part of Trump’s effort to create a rival to the United Nations, which he believes is inconsistent with U.S. interests. This has not been embraced by other countries, including China and parts of Europe.”
Joining the board could put Indonesia at risk of being drawn into Trump’s political games and “the orbit of his far-right agenda,” he added.
Trump, who chairs the council, has invited dozens of other world leaders to join it and believes the group will address other global challenges beyond the Gaza truce. But he claimed he had no intention of replacing the United Nations.
His invitation to world leaders also comes with a $1 billion price tag for a permanent seat on the council, as it aims to resolve conflicts around the world outside existing UN mechanisms.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Waheed Nabil Muracela stressed to reporters on Thursday that Indonesia’s participation was due to its initiative to help end violence in Gaza and ensure access to humanitarian aid, and was consistent with United Nations mechanisms.
“Indonesia joined because it supports UN Security Council Resolution 2803,” Waheed said.
Asked whether Jakarta would pay for permanent seats on the council, he said: “The resolution positions the council as a transitional government, which means it is only temporary.”
