Jakarta. Indonesia said Thursday that being in the same Gaza peace board as Israel does not mean normalization of ties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just signed up to the Board of Peace during a Washington trip, ahead of the group’s inaugural meeting. This board, chaired by US President Donald Trump, aims to oversee the ceasefire in the war-struck Gaza.

Indonesia is a founding member and even plans to make the $1 billion buy-in. But Indonesia’s decision remains universally panned at home, with many even fearing that it would bring Jakarta closer to Israel. Indonesia and Israel do not have official ties, but trade has been quietly burgeoning.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela dismissed concerns over the potential normalization of ties between the two countries.

“Indonesia’s presence in the Board of Peace cannot be interpreted as a normalization of political ties with any party, or as a legitimacy to a certain country’s policy,” Nabyl told the Jakarta Globe in a text message.

He went on to say that Jakarta’s membership centers on the mandate to protect the civilians and enable humanitarian aid, as stated in the 2025 UN Security Council resolution. Southeast Asia’s biggest economy also intends to help with establishing stability and reconstructing the enclave. 

“Indonesia believes that involving the parties in conflict is part of the pathway to peace. As a member, we will actively encourage the Palestinian Authority’s active participation. We will make sure every process is oriented towards Palestinians’ interests,” Nabyl said.

The two-state solution of having Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace remains on Indonesia’s wishlist, according to the envoy. 

On Feb. 19, the Board of Peace will hold a leaders-level gathering in Washington for the first time since the group’s hard launch last month. Nabyl confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto would join. It remains unclear whether the world will see Prabowo and Netanyahu in the same room next week. Reports showed that the Gaza reconstruction fundraising would be a central theme. Prabowo and Trump will sign the highly anticipated US tariff deal on the margins of the Washington visit.

But the lack of official relations does not put the brakes on Indonesia-Israel trade. The government reported that Indonesia’s Israel-bound exports rose 36.24% year-on-year to $250.2 million in 2025. Indonesia mainly shipped goods categorized as animal fats and vegetable oils ($56.1 million) and footwear ($21.4 million). Asked about these statistics during a recent presser, Trade Minister Budi Santoso responded: “It’s okay to trade with anyone”. He avoided mentioning Israel and turned the conversation to how Jakarta still does business with Taiwan despite not recognizing it as an independent state.

Prabowo has repeatedly stated that Jakarta was willing to form ties with Israel, but under the condition that it recognizes Palestinian statehood.

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