Indonesia rejects $1 billion fee for Gaza 'Board of Peace' amid domestic criticism
Indonesia has, amid domestic criticism, rejected making any financial commitment to join a United States-backed Gaza initiative as a permanent member.
President Prabowo Subianto said his country would not pay the $1 billion fee required for permanent membership in the so-called Board of Peace, clarifying that Jakarta’s role was limited to a potential "peacekeeping contribution."
"We never said that we wanted to contribute $1 billion,” Prabowo said in statements broadcast on his YouTube channel Sunday.
He added that Indonesia had not made any financial pledges "at all."
Limited role and possible withdrawal
Prabowo said Indonesia’s participation was confined to offering "peacekeeping" troops, following earlier pledges to send 8,000 personnel to Gaza. However, he signaled that Jakarta’s involvement remains conditional.
He stated that Indonesia could withdraw from the initiative if it failed to benefit Palestinians or align with national interests.
Talks with Washington regarding any "peacekeeping" deployment have also been put “on hold,” according to Indonesia’s state news agency, citing a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
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Domestic backlash
The president, a former general, has faced criticism from Indonesian Muslim groups for joining the initiative and committing troops to Gaza.
The controversy has been compounded by the structure of the "Board of Peace," which requires countries seeking permanent membership to pay a $1 billion fee, prompting concerns that it could operate as a "pay-to-play" body similar to the UN Security Council.
The "Board of Peace" was formed after the United States, working with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to supposedly halt the Israeli regime's war of genocide against Gaza that had begun in October 2023 and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children.
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The board is chaired by US President Donald Trump and includes political figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Attempts at formation of the board come despite continued instability on the ground resulting from the Israeli regime's incessant violations of the ceasefire that, observers say, is aimed at sustaining the genocidal pattern.
Critics have condemned Trump for failing to have the regime commit to the deal, including by stopping the bloodshed and ensuring the provision of required aid to the war-battered and starving Palestinian territory.
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