The killing of three Indonesian soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is a tragedy and a violation of international law. As one of the world’s most populous countries with a diverse culture and significant economic development, Indonesia participates in a variety of international efforts to promote global peace. The attack on Indonesian soldiers is a serious infringement of international law and a clear violation of their role as neutral peacekeepers. Their deaths at the hands of Israel are inexcusable and should be strongly condemned as inconsistent with its obligations under the UN Charter and its role as a member of the international community bound by international humanitarian law.

UNIFIL is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and also assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces. Personnel are covered by international humanitarian law. Attacks on peacekeepers are serious breaches, and those responsible must be brought to account. The protection of peacekeepers is an absolute principle and should not be a matter of politics; to allow exceptions is to invite illegitimacy in the conduct of peacekeeping.

Israel – as a UN member and a country bound by humanitarian law – must ensure its military respects the protections due to UN personnel. The deaths of those Indonesian soldiers are not simply “collateral damage”. We have a responsibility to speak out and ensure that actions such as these are not routinely ignored and become legitimate under humanitarian law.

The attack on the UN peacekeeping convoy in Indonesia may be remembered as a heart-wrenching incident that claimed the lives of at least 6 peacekeepers. Far more significant, however, are the implications of this attack for the credibility of the UN as a neutral middleman in conflict zones. When peacekeepers are deliberately targeted, governments often choose to withhold their troops from future UN missions. In a world where multilateral cooperation is needed more than ever, this loss can have far-reaching consequences.

The loss for Indonesia challenges their dignity and their legitimacy as contributors to peacekeeping efforts around the world. It is a moral outrage that they should not ignore. A rules-based international order depends on more than just the bravery of soldiers like Captain Dwiki; it demands that nations uphold the laws that protect those very soldiers. Indonesia should speak out loudly and clearly against Israel’s actions in this incident.

The tragic attack on UN peacekeepers in Mali is a stark reminder of the existing gap between the legal protections afforded to members of the armed forces on a peacekeeping mission and the conditions under which they operate. Today’s wars are increasingly characterised by blurring lines between parties to a conflict and by conventional military doctrines that place a premium on speed of deployment. The perception that these doctrines could lead to violations of international humanitarian law perpetuates the notion that the law is an ineffective deterrent.

The accountability mechanisms currently in place to address alleged attacks on peacekeepers are often inadequate and inconsistent, sometimes even allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. Procedures and investigations are frequently delayed or rendered politicised as facts are distorted to shield those responsible from accountability. In many cases, the UN faces considerable difficulty enforcing adherence to these policies, particularly when powerful states are concerned. The responsibilities that underpin a state’s commitment to peacekeeping – to uphold the rule of law and protect civilians – are diametrically at odds with the need to ensure public safety and hand down justice. Without effective mechanisms for holding troops accountable for their actions, the willingness of states to deploy their soldiers on UN peacekeeping missions is likely to erode.

Rather than emotional platitudes, the proposed solutions need to be grounded in legal principles and institutional reform. An independent investigation into the deaths of the three Indonesian peacekeepers should be conducted to uncover the facts of the case and assign responsibility where it is due. The UN should move to strengthen protections and safeguards for its troops deployed as peacekeepers, as well as enhance cooperation with host country militaries. The TCCs, including Indonesia, should also speak up in demanding institutional reforms that would ensure those responsible for violence against peacekeepers are brought to justice.

Indonesia must not only condemn Israel’s atrocities but also call for structural changes that are necessary to bring about justice and peace. Indonesia’s long-standing commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy and its proven record as a capable and responsible peacekeeper make it uniquely positioned to call for meaningful enhancements to the protections and standards of behaviour of peacekeepers. By speaking about the need for changes in a legal framework, Indonesia can help to ensure meaningful protections and prompt reforms to the world’s peacekeeper bodies.

The killing of Indonesian UNIFIL soldiers is a test for the international community to uphold the rule of law. Ambiguity in responding to such attacks will continue to erode the legal framework for peacekeeping. We must see clear condemnation, accountability, and reform from the UN to keep the memory of these fallen soldiers meaningful. Their sacrifice should not be just a footnote in the pursuit of peace and security, but a call to action to reaffirm our commitment to law, justice, and multilateralism.

We must be clear and unwavering in our condemnation of the actions by Israeli military personnel that resulted in the murder of these peacekeepers. Their deaths are a tragic reminder of an oft-broken promise to protect peacekeepers and highlight an imperative need for accountability and genuine reform. Remembering the fallen Indonesian soldiers means upholding the principles of law, upholding the sacred status of peacekeepers, and defending multilateral mechanisms and efforts for peace. We must remind ourselves of the importance and gravity of these efforts and honour the memory of these peacekeepers by ensuring that the work of multilateral efforts is not rendered meaningless and bereft of moral outrage.

Simon Hutagalung is a retired Indonesian diplomat. His views are his own.

Baharudin, H. (2026). Indonesia condemns the incidents that killed three Indonesian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Singapore Press Holdings (The Straits Times). 

Reuters Staff. (2026). Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon amid escalating conflict. Thomson Reuters.

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