Bandung, February 13, 2026 — Yulius Purwadi Hermawan, Ph.D., was invited as a speaker on the Kompas Petang news program to discuss Indonesia’s plan to deploy peacekeeping troops to Gaza. The discussion followed reports regarding the potential deployment of up to 8,000 personnel as part of efforts to create stability and peace in the region.
In the interview, Yulius expressed his opposition to Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace (BoP) initiative proposed by the United States. According to him, this rejection is supported by numerous reasons that have already been articulated by various experts and senior diplomats. However, recent developments indicate a new line of reasoning, suggesting that Indonesia’s participation in the BoP is considered the only viable option for the country to contribute to peacebuilding efforts in Palestine. Yulius further explained that such a decision has not yet been fully rationalized. He emphasized that if Indonesia were to join the BoP, it must first gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. He expressed concern that acting hastily could potentially create circumstances that might endanger Indonesia.
Yulius also stated that although further assessments and “consolidation” efforts have been conducted, the deployment of troops should be postponed for the time being. He proposed that, as a country positioning itself as a change maker, Indonesia should first present the results of its assessments in a meeting forum with the United States in Washington, while also directly listening to expectations regarding Indonesia’s role in the BoP. According to him, an official commitment to deploy troops should only be declared after this process has been completed.
Furthermore, Yulius stressed that the goal of supporting Palestinian dignity must be carefully and thoroughly considered. He reminded that Hamas has firmly rejected any form of foreign monitoring or troop presence that could be perceived as foreign occupation, including the idea of an International Stabilization Force. Therefore, he urged Indonesia to remain cautious about the possibility of other underlying interests behind the initiative and to ensure that every step taken remains oriented toward the interests of the Palestinian people.
The interview video can be accessed through the following link.