Indonesia prepares peacekeeping troop deployment to Gaza
Indonesia is preparing to deploy up to 1,000 troops to Gaza as early as April as part of a United Nations-mandated International Stabilisation Force, according to the Indonesian military, as reported by Middle East Eye and agencies on February 16th.
A further 7,000 soldiers are expected to be on standby by June, with final authorisation pending President Prabowo Subianto’s approval.
An army spokesperson said the deployment timeline remains dependent on political decisions and international coordination mechanisms. Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Maruli Simanjuntak previously indicated that between 5,000 and 8,000 personnel could ultimately be sent, though negotiations over final numbers are ongoing.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry stressed over the weekend of February 14th to 15th that participation in the mission — which is linked to a peace framework proposed by US President Donald Trump — should not be interpreted as a step towards normalising diplomatic relations with Israel.
“Indonesia consistently rejects all attempts at demographic change or the forced displacement or relocation of the Palestinian people in any form,” the ministry said in a statement.
Officials emphasised that the deployment would carry a non-combatant, humanitarian mandate and could only proceed with the consent of the Palestinian Authority.
Indonesian troops would not take part in combat operations or engage directly with armed groups, the ministry added, nor would they be tasked with demilitarising any party.
However, the broader mandate of the international stabilisation force reportedly includes overseeing the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip and the permanent decommissioning of weapons held by non-state armed groups. The UN resolution authorising the mission allows the force to use “all necessary measures” to fulfil its objectives.
The proposed deployment places Indonesia in a delicate diplomatic position. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and a longstanding supporter of Palestinian statehood, Jakarta has historically avoided direct security engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Indonesia, one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, currently has more than 2,700 personnel deployed across Africa and the Middle East.
Middle East Eye and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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