Indonesia Mobilises Up to 8,000 Troops for Gaza Peacekeeping Mission
Indonesia has initiated training for a contingent of up to 8,000 soldiers designated for deployment as part of an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. This move represents the first concrete commitment to a pivotal component of U.S. President Donald Trump's postwar reconstruction strategy for the region.
Experience Meets Skepticism in Domestic Response
As one of the top ten contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with notable involvement in Lebanon, Indonesia brings considerable experience to the table. The nation has also been actively engaged in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including funding a hospital. However, President Prabowo Subianto's decision to join Washington's proposed Board of Peace and participate in the International Security Force has been met with significant domestic skepticism.
Many Indonesians view the commitment as premature, given the vague operational details released thus far, and perceive it as an effort to appease Trump's agenda amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
"We need to be careful to ensure that our military personnel are not supporting the Israeli military forces," cautioned Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert at Jakarta's Center of Economic and Law Studies. "We need to be careful that our military forces are not fighting against wrong actors."
Unclear Mandate and Financial Concerns Loom Large
The mandate for the International Security Force remains ambiguous. Unlike U.N. peacekeeping operations, which operate under clear and strict mandates, the Board of Peace and ISF will function outside the U.N. framework. This raises critical questions about how the troops will be utilised and who will bear the financial burden.
A ceasefire agreement from last year broadly states that the ISF will "provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza" and "work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas." Indonesia currently receives compensation from the U.N. for its peacekeeping contributions, but fears persist that the nation may have to cover the costs for the Gaza deployment independently.
Additionally, a draft charter suggests a potential $1 billion payment for a permanent seat on the Board of Peace, further fuelling financial apprehensions.
Strategic Justifications and Editorial Criticism
As the world's most populous Muslim nation and a firm supporter of a two-state solution in the Middle East, Indonesian officials have defended joining the Board of Peace. They argue that participation is necessary to defend Palestinian interests from within, especially since Israel holds a seat on the board while Palestinian representation is absent.
"Indonesia sees the importance of the involvement of the parties to the conflict as part of the process towards peace," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang this week. She emphasised that Indonesia would leverage its membership to "ensure that the entire process remains oriented towards the interests of Palestine and respects the basic rights of the Palestinian people, as well as encouraging the realization of a two-state solution."
However, The Jakarta Post criticised this reasoning in a recent editorial, arguing that an "independent Palestinian state, if it emerges at all, is likely decades away." Columnist Abdul Khalik warned, "Indonesia will end up paying $1 billion long before any meaningful outcome is achieved. And if Indonesia eventually withdraws in frustration, it will have already spent vast resources; financial, diplomatic and political, for nothing."
Trump's Expanded Vision and Regional Perceptions
Initially conceived as a small group overseeing Trump's Gaza plan, the Board of Peace has since been described by the U.S. president as a mediator for global conflicts, potentially sidestepping the U.N.'s mandate. President Prabowo, a former army general eager to elevate Indonesia's global profile, swiftly accepted Trump's offer for a board seat. He initially pledged 20,000 troops during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
An online petition initiated by Muslim scholars and activists, garnering over 9,000 signatures, questions joining a body whose proposed lifetime chairman is Trump. The petition cites his controversial actions, including threats regarding Greenland, the seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and the U.S. veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire last year.
"In our belief, peace will be difficult to achieve by a country or a leader of a country who repeatedly uses his veto power to prevent the occurrence of peace itself," the petition reads, calling for Indonesia's withdrawal from the Board of Peace.
Military Preparations Amidst Protests and Analyst Insights
Despite the lack of specific guidance on required personnel types, Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak confirmed that training has commenced for peacekeepers, with the envisioned deployment now scaled to between 5,000 and 8,000 troops. "We have started training personnel who might later serve as peacekeepers," he said. "So that means engineering, medical units - the types often deployed."
Approximately 100 protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Friday, holding signs with slogans such as "Bored of peace?" and "Free Gaza."
Regionally, however, the prospect of Indonesian peacekeepers in Gaza is viewed positively. Hassan Jouni, a Qatar-based analyst and former Lebanese army general, described Indonesia as an "honest and acceptable broker" in conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.
"Indonesia is a Muslim country... and its religious identity gives it a large distinction in its security participation as part of the peacekeeping forces in the Arab region," he noted. "At the same time, it does not pose a strategic threat to Israel."
While Indonesia lacks formal diplomatic ties with Israel and supports Palestinian rights, it has avoided the directly confrontational stance adopted by some other Muslim-majority nations like Turkey and Iran.
Looking Ahead to the Board of Peace Inaugural Meeting
Clarity is anticipated from the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace scheduled for next week in Washington, where other countries are expected to announce their own troop commitments. President Prabowo plans to attend in person and is likely to sign a new trade deal during the visit.
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat from the Center of Economic and Law Studies expressed doubt that domestic opposition would alter Indonesia's decision. "I don't think the domestic opposition would significantly change the decision of Indonesia in joining the BoP," he concluded.
