Board of Peace and the illusion of peace without justice

The inclusion of several non-Western states, including Indonesia, in the newly formed Board of Peace on Gaza has been presented as a constructive diplomatic step toward ending violence and facilitating post-war recovery. Supporters frame the initiative as pragmatic engagement—a way to contribute to humanitarian protection and political stabilisation. Yet beyond questions of participation and goodwill lies a deeper and more troubling issue: what kind of peace is being pursued, and at what normative cost? The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is not a humanitarian emergency born of spontaneous violence. It is one of the most legally documented cases of prolonged occupation in modern history. For decades, international law has provided a clear framework for addressing this conflict—centred on self-determination, the illegality of permanent […]