Indonesia Prepares 1,000 Troops For Potential Gaza Peacekeeping Mission By April

Indonesia is preparing 1,000 troops for possible deployment to Gaza by early April as part of a proposed multinational peacekeeping force, the country’s army spokesperson said Monday.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will make the final call on whether to send the troops, spokesperson Donny Pramono told reporters. He added that the military will have 8,000 soldiers ready for deployment by June.

“The departure schedule remains entirely subject to the political decisions of the state and applicable international mechanisms,” Pramono said.

The announcement comes as Prabowo prepares to head to Washington this week for the first official meeting of the Board of Peace, which US President Donald Trump chairs.

A United Nations Security Council resolution endorsed the board’s creation as part of the Trump administration’s plan to end the war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Jakarta Stresses No Normalisation With Israel

Indonesia’s foreign ministry clarified Saturday that sending troops to the UN-mandated International Stabilisation Force in Gaza does not mean Jakarta is normalising political relations with anyone.

Jakarta refuses to recognise Israel or maintain any diplomatic relations with the country.

“Indonesia consistently rejects all attempts at demographic change or the forced displacement or relocation of the Palestinian people in any form,” the ministry said.

Naija News gathered that the deployment carries a non-combatant, humanitarian mandate and can only happen if the Palestinian Authority gives consent. Indonesian troops will have no authority to demilitarise any party.

The world’s most populous Muslim majority nation has long championed Palestinian rights and independence. Jakarta maintains its refusal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel as a core principle of its foreign policy.

The proposed peacekeeping force forms part of broader international efforts to stabilise Gaza and prevent the conflict from flaring up again after any potential ceasefire agreement takes hold.

Indonesia’s willingness to contribute troops signals its desire to play a significant role in international efforts to bring peace to Gaza following months of devastating fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

The military has already begun preparing the first batch of troops for possible deployment, though the actual mission depends on multiple factors, including international approval, Palestinian consent, and President Prabowo’s final authorisation.