UN expert urges Indonesia to reconsider joining Trump's Gaza board

UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese urged Indonesia to reconsider joining Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza, calling it dangerous and lacking a Palestinian voice. Jakarta says discussions remain on hold.

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories has urged Indonesia to reconsider its involvement in US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza, saying the plan is being shaped by Israel and the US and lacks a Palestinian voice. Francesca Albanese told Reuters in Jakarta that joining the board was dangerous even if Indonesia's intentions were good.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, is a key troop-contributing member of the board and has pledged forces for an international stabilisation mission in Gaza. But the board, unveiled by Trump in January, has drawn criticism from rights experts for having no Palestinian representative even though it is meant to supervise the temporary governance of a Palestinian territory.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Board of Peace discussions remained on hold, reiterating its earlier position. Albanese instead recommended Jakarta join the Hague Group of countries, which includes South Africa and Malaysia and seeks to uphold international law, as Trump's Gaza plan stalls with efforts to disarm Hamas and secure an Israeli withdrawal faltering.