Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 Foreign Minister Sugiono has affirmed that\nIndonesian military (TNI) personnel deployed on a peacekeeping mission\nwith the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, Palestine,\nwill not conduct military operations.<\/p>\n
The Foreign Minister said the ISF\u2019s operational mandate permits\nparticipating nations \u2014 in this case Indonesia, which also serves as ISF\nDeputy Commander \u2014 to set out limitations on troop deployment, known as\na national caveat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have already conveyed our national caveat to the ISF: that we\nwill not conduct military operations. Furthermore, we will not carry out\ndisarmament, nor what is termed demilitarisation,\u201d Sugiono said during a\npress briefing in Washington DC on Friday evening (20 February) local\ntime.<\/p>\n
He explained that Indonesian forces would not undertake disarmament\nor any other demilitarisation activities in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The thousands of Indonesian troops being deployed in stages will\ncarry out only humanitarian duties, protect civilians, and defend\nthemselves if attacked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are doing is protecting civilians on both sides,\nparticipating in humanitarian efforts on the ground, and of course there\nare rules of engagement that we can invoke as a force if we come under\nattack, in the context of self-defence,\u201d Sugiono said.<\/p>\n
He also noted that within the ISF structure, the United States serves\nas force commander, supported by three deputy commanders, one of whom is\nIndonesia, responsible for operations.<\/p>\n
Sugiono described Indonesia\u2019s appointment as ISF Deputy Commander for\nOperations as an honour and a recognition of the reputation of\nIndonesian soldiers across various peacekeeping missions worldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Indonesian forces are also the largest contingent there, the\ndeputy commander for operations role is an acknowledgement and tribute\nto Indonesia\u2019s track record, as well as the reputation of Indonesian\nsoldiers across various peacekeeping theatres,\u201d Sugiono said.<\/p>\n
At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting held at the Donald J. Trump\nInstitute of Peace in Washington DC on Thursday morning (19 February)\nlocal time, President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia\u2019s readiness\nto send 8,000 TNI soldiers to serve with the ISF in Gaza, Palestine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ceasefire in Gaza is a tangible achievement. We commend this\naccomplishment and therefore reaffirm our commitment to contributing a\nsignificant number of troops \u2014 8,000, and potentially more if needed,\u201d\nPresident Prabowo said during the Board of Peace summit.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, ISF Commander Major General Jasper Jeffers of the US Armed\nForces stated that projections indicate 20,000 soldiers and 12,000\npolice officers will eventually serve with the ISF to restore post-war\nconditions in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Major General Jeffers said Rafah, located in southern Gaza and\nbordering Egypt, would be the ISF\u2019s first destination.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-minister-affirms-tni-will-not-conduct-military-operations-with-isf-in-gaza-1771685910", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }