Indonesia officially joins the Board of Peace, which is part of the 20-point peace plan designed by the United States to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was one of the world leaders who signed the Board of Peace charter on Thursday (Jan. 22) in Davos, Switzerland.

The signing of this charter marks the beginning of the Board of Peace (BoP) as a new international body formed to oversee the transition, stabilization, and reconstruction process in the post-conflict Gaza.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono in his statement in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, on Friday (Jan. 23), said that Indonesia's participation in the Gaza Board of Peace is a form of Indonesia's commitment to the Palestinian peace efforts through an international body.

According to him, one of the main agendas of the Indonesian president is the signing of the Board of Peace charter, which is a continuation of the long process of dialogue and meetings of a number of countries, especially Islamic countries and those with Muslim-majority populations regarding the situation in Palestine.

“The signing of the Board of Peace charter is part of the process that we have been doing so far in order to resolve the conflict, achieve peace and resolve the conflict and post-conflict rehabilitation in Palestine, Gaza in particular,” the foreign minister said.

According to Sugiono, the agreement to establish the BoP was born from a shared determination to involve the international community more concretely in order to achieve permanent peace in Gaza.

The discussions then continued until the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, which became the momentum for the signing of the Board of Peace charter, the minister added.

"Actually, the Board of Peace is an international body, now officially an international body tasked with monitoring administration, stabilization, and also rehabilitation efforts in Gaza in particular and in Palestine," he explained.

Sugiono further said Indonesia saw it important to join as from the beginning it has consistently supported international peace and stability, especially for Palestine.

Although the process of forming this body took place relatively quickly, President Prabowo decided for Indonesia to be part of the BoP after considering various strategic aspects.

"From the beginning, we have been a country that cares about peace, international stability and especially the situation in Palestine. Because this Board of Peace is part of the effort to achieve peace, we must be in it," the minister stressed.

The decision was also taken through intensive consultations with countries that are members of the Group of New York. The Foreign Minister revealed that a number of countries agreed to join, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Indonesia.

"Two days before the signing, everyone agreed to join the Board of Peace," he said, while believing that the BoP's existence is a long-awaited concrete step in overseeing the Palestinian peace process. The presence of these countries is expected to ensure that every step taken remains oriented towards Palestinian independence and the realization of a two-state solution.

The foreign minister emphasized that the BoP is not intended to replace the role of the United Nations (UN). "This body is not intended to replace the UN. It is an international body born out of concern for creating peace and stability, especially in Gaza. Therefore, we must participate in these efforts; Indonesia has decided to join," Sugiono expounded.  

The Board of Peace was initially proposed as part of a 20-point peace plan drafted by the United States to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Germany has recently stated not join the board in its current form, while Canada canceled its participation after Trump withdrew its invitation.

Reporting by Indonesia Window