Indonesia’s participation in Gaza ‘under careful consideration,’ says official

ISTANBUL

Indonesia is “carefully considering” the deployment of peacekeeping forces to Gaza, the country’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

“Indonesia's possible participation in peace efforts in Gaza, Palestine, remains under careful consideration. The focus of the current discussion is on ensuring a clear mandate, the protection of civilians, and consistency with Indonesia's longstanding peacekeeping principles,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela told Anadolu.

“At this stage, no final decision has been taken yet, and we are not in a position to confirm details pertaining to numbers, composition, timelines or specific areas of operation,” he said, emphasizing that Jakarta’s contribution would prioritize “the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance, and stabilization efforts, within a clearly defined and non-offensive role.”

Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Tandyo Budi Revita also said Tuesday that any peacekeeping force would be drawn from units with experience in active conflict zones, according to Indonesian outlet Tempo.

"We already have experience. We have personnel who served with UNIFIL in Lebanon," he said. "These are the personnel we will deploy. They are not units that have never operated in conflict areas."

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak said Monday that Jakarta could deploy between 5,000 and 8,000 personnel, potentially at the brigade level, according to Tempo.

"It could be a brigade, around 5,000 to 8,000 troops, but everything is still under negotiation. There is no confirmed number yet," Maruli said.

He added that coordination on the mission is ongoing and that the body overseeing the peacekeeping effort would later provide guidance on operational needs.

"We are waiting for the results of coordination from those overseeing the mission in Gaza. Once that reaches TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) Headquarters and then Army Headquarters, we will know what kind of personnel are required and can prepare accordingly," he said.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Tuesday that: "Preparations have begun on the ground to accommodate Indonesian soldiers in Gaza, who will be integrated into the international stabilization force."

KAN said no date has been set for the arrival of the troops, but that the first foreign force expected to reach Gaza would be from Indonesia.

The broadcaster said an area south of the Gaza Strip, between the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, has been prepared to receive the Indonesian forces.

Quoting unnamed informed sources, the broadcaster said the designated area is "ready," but that preparing buildings and housing there "will take several weeks."

"The number of Indonesian soldiers is estimated at several thousand, and discussions are already underway with Jakarta regarding the initial plan for deploying the Indonesian forces and how they will be transported to Gaza," the broadcaster said.

Separately, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been invited to a meeting in Washington next week related to US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace.”