JAKARTA - International law experts assess that Indonesia should wait for clarity regarding its willingness to join the Gaza Peace Council initiated by US President Donald Trump.
Indonesia together with a number of countries participating in the Gaza Peace Summit or Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit issued a joint statement regarding its willingness to join the council.
"The concept is still unclear, especially with the money of 1 billion dollars (US). So it's better for Indonesia to wait first," explained Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia, Professor Hikmahanto Juwana SH, LL.M, Ph.D to VOI.id, Thursday (22/1).
It is known that President Trump last week announced the formation of the Gaza Strip Peace Council, which he headed in a post on Truth Social, as part of peace efforts in the Palestinian enclave.
The White House has contacted various figures around the world to sit in what is called the "Peace Council", which is headed by the US President, as reported by Al Arabiya from Reuters.
Indonesia together with a number of countries that are participants in the Gaza Peace Summit or the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit announced their willingness to join the Gaza Peace Council.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates welcomed the invitation extended to the leaders of their respective countries by President Trump to join the Peace Council.
"The ministers announced their countries' joint decision to join the Peace Council," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted on its official account.
"Each country will sign the joining document according to the legal procedures and other procedures required by each country," he continued.
The statement further said the top diplomats "reaffirmed their countries' support for President Trump's peace efforts."
The Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Türkiye, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates welcome the invitation…
— MoFA Indonesia (@Kemlu_RI) January 21, 2026
A number of world leaders have reportedly accepted the US's offer to join the council, which is expected to begin work during the second phase of the peace plan.
Israel is one of the countries that have expressed their willingness to join the council. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country agreed to join the council, although it had previously objected to the composition of the executive council members who would fill the Gaza Peace Council.
"I am afraid this will become a problem. A problem between the Government and the Indonesian people who do not want a relationship with Israel before Palestine is recognized as a state," said Professor Hikmahanto.
Citing The Associated Press, the Trump-led council was originally designed to be filled with a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan.
But Trump's ambitions evolved into a broader concept, sending invitations to dozens of countries and hinting that they would soon become mediators in the Gaza and global conflicts.
A number of heads of state are reported to have accepted an offer from the US to join the council.
On the other hand, a number of countries are reportedly still waiting for clarity on the council from the United States, highlighting its extensive role not only in the Gaza Strip, as well as on the role of the United Nations (UN).
The council will be chaired for life by Trump and will start by addressing the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to handle other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.
A US official said members of the Peace Council would get a permanent seat if they paid 1 billion US dollars.
All the funds raised will be used to rebuild Gaza, the official said, as quoted by CNN, adding "there will be no very high salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations."
Although there is no requirement to contribute funds to the board, members who do not make the payment of 1 billion US dollars will have a three-year term.
Bloomberg first reported on the $1 billion payment.
"Again, because the proposal for the formation is not clear, I can't make an assessment," said Professor Hikmahanto.
"It is better for Indonesia to wait for clarity, including the relationship between the Council and the UN," said Hikmahanto.
The council is expected to begin work in the second phase of a peace plan agreed in October 2025 by Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas through mediation by Egypt, Qatar, the US and Turkey.
Prior to the announcement of the formation of this council, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff last week announced the start of the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza with a focus on demilitarization, the formation of a technocratic government for transition and reconstruction.
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