JAKARTA – Indonesian officials are pressing the United Nations to launch a formal investigation into the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers who were killed in southern Lebanon amid Israeli military strikes, according to a foreign ministry statement released Wednesday.
During an emergency Security Council session on Tuesday, Indonesia’s UN representative Umar Hadi delivered the country’s demand for accountability.
“We demand a direct investigation from the U.N., not just Israel’s excuses,” Hadi stated during the meeting.
Earlier this week, Indonesian officials warned that current Israeli military actions have put UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon in serious danger.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers died in two different incidents in southern Lebanon, occurring during a violent weekend that also saw Lebanese journalists and medical personnel killed in Israeli attacks.
According to UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, preliminary investigation results suggest that a roadside bomb may have been responsible for killing two Indonesian peacekeepers on Monday.
Israeli military officials responded Tuesday, stating their review of Monday’s incident determined that Israeli forces did not plant any explosive devices in the location and that no Israeli personnel were in the area at the time.
The UN reported in 2024 that Indonesia ranks among the world’s top contributors to peacekeeping operations, providing more than 2,700 uniformed personnel to various missions.
Indonesia has also committed to providing troops for possible deployment in Gaza as part of a UN-authorized multinational stabilization force.
