Plan to Deploy Indonesian Troops to Gaza Not Final Yet
Jakarta. Indonesia is still reviewing plans to deploy up to 20,000 military personnel to Gaza as part of a proposed peacekeeping and humanitarian mission, Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Friday, stressing that the government is coordinating closely with countries surrounding Palestine before making a final decision.
“We will continue coordinating with countries around Palestine, especially Jordan, to determine the final decision. Everything is still under coordination,” Sugiono told reporters at the Merdeka Palace.
His remarks followed an earlier statement from Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who revealed that the Indonesian Military (TNI) had prepared 20,000 troops at President Prabowo Subianto’s direction. The force would be configured primarily for humanitarian operations, including medical services for civilians affected by the conflict and infrastructure reconstruction.
“We are maximizing our preparation of 20,000 personnel, focusing on health and construction capabilities,” Sjafrie said at the Defense Ministry in Jakarta. He added that the mission would aim to sustain conditions for long-term peace and support future political negotiations.
In addition to the proposed troop deployment, Sjafrie confirmed that the Indonesian Air Force would continue its routine airdrop of humanitarian supplies to Gaza, a mission it has carried out throughout the year.
The discussion over a large-scale deployment comes against the backdrop of President Prabowo’s address before the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, where he announced Indonesia’s readiness to significantly expand its contribution to global peacekeeping. Speaking shortly after US President Donald Trump, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the UN, multilateralism, and collective security.
Prabowo told world leaders that Indonesia was prepared to deploy “20,000 or more” troops should the UN Security Council and General Assembly request it, indicating potential missions not only in Gaza but also in Ukraine, Sudan, Libya, or “anywhere peace needs to be enforced and guarded.” He also pledged increased financial support for UN operations in conflict zones.
The president used the platform to underscore Indonesia’s longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people, reiterating support for a two-state solution and condemning ongoing Israeli military actions. “We must never be silenced while Palestinians are denied justice and existence,” Prabowo declared.
He called on member states to reject what he described as the doctrine of “the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must,” urging a renewed commitment to justice for vulnerable nations.
Indonesia, already among the UN’s top 10 troop-contributing countries, currently has more than 2,700 military and police personnel deployed across missions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its peacekeeping history dates back to 1957, when it joined the UN Emergency Force in Sinai.
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