Indonesia is preparing to deploy up to 1,000 troops to Gaza as early as April as part of a potential multinational peacekeeping effort, amid efforts to stabilise the region following the Gaza conflict.
Indonesian Army spokesperson Brigadier General Donny Pramono confirmed the plan, noting that the final decision rests with President Prabowo Subianto. He added that a larger contingent of 8,000 soldiers could be prepared for deployment by June. “The departure schedule remains entirely subject to the political decisions of the state and applicable international mechanisms,” Pramono said in a text message to Reuters.
President Prabowo is scheduled to travel to Washington on February 19 for the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump. The Board of Peace was established following United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025, which endorsed Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and authorised the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to support post-conflict stabilisation, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry emphasised that participation in the UN-mandated ISF would be strictly non-combatant and humanitarian. Any deployment requires consent from Palestinian authorities and does not involve any mandate to demilitarise parties to the conflict. “Indonesia consistently rejects all attempts at demographic change or the forced displacement or relocation of the Palestinian people in any form,” the ministry stated. Jakarta does not recognise Israel diplomatically and has no formal relations with Tel Aviv. The ministry stressed that involvement should not be seen as normalisation of political relations with any party.
If approved, this would be Indonesia’s largest contribution to a multinational peacekeeping operation. Since assuming office in late 2024, President Prabowo has positioned Indonesia as a significant contributor to global peace efforts. In a UN General Assembly speech in September 2025, he expressed readiness to deploy 20,000 or more personnel to support peace in regions including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Libya.
Indonesia has strong public support for the Palestinian cause and has historically criticised Israeli actions in Gaza, especially following the 7th October, 2023, attacks by Hamas. Critics caution that participation could be perceived as aligning with Israel or undermining Palestinian rights.
Joining the Board of Peace, which includes Israel, Türkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, represents a shift in Indonesia’s traditional “free and active” foreign policy. Some observers warn it may strain Jakarta’s independent diplomatic stance amid geopolitical tensions.
Government officials have emphasised the humanitarian nature of any involvement, including civilian protection, aid distribution, and reconstruction support. Troops would prioritise engineering, medical, and training roles for Palestinian police and would avoid combat or disarmament operations against non-state groups.
The International Stabilization Force is envisioned as a key element of the post-ceasefire phase, involving thousands of international personnel to oversee security, aid delivery, and rebuilding. Indonesia’s offer is one of the most concrete commitments to date, though deployment remains conditional on political approval and alignment with national principles.
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