The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified four national caveats\nestablished by Indonesia for its involvement in the International\nStabilisation Force (ISF) in the Gaza Strip. These conditions serve as\nprerequisites for Indonesia\u2019s participation in the mission.<\/p>\n
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said the government\nhad set clear parameters for its involvement from the outset, noting\nthat Indonesia had established firm national caveats from the very\nbeginning.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, Indonesia\u2019s participation is non-combat and\nnon-demilitarisation in nature, and does not include disarmament\nactivities,\u201d Yvonne told Tempo on Monday, 23 February 2026.<\/p>\n
Second, Indonesia will not engage in direct confrontation with any\nparty. Third, the deployment of Indonesian personnel is limited to the\nGaza area and must receive the consent of Palestinian authorities.<\/p>\n
Fourth, the use of force is permitted only for self-defence and to\nuphold the mandate. Such use must be proportional, graduated, employed\nas a last resort, and in accordance with international law and the Rules\nof Engagement.<\/p>\n
Yvonne stated that Indonesia\u2019s participation in the ISF is focused on\ncivilian protection, the provision of humanitarian and medical aid,\nreconstruction, and strengthening the capacity of Palestinian civil\nauthorities through training for Palestinian civilian police.<\/p>\n
Hikmahanto Juwana, Professor of International Law at the University\nof Indonesia, questioned the effectiveness of the national caveats the\ngovernment claims to have communicated regarding Indonesia\u2019s involvement\nin the Gaza mission. He raised concerns about whether these national\nlimitations would genuinely be considered and used as the basis for\ndirecting Indonesian troops. \u201cWill the national caveat be considered and\nused as the basis for moving our troops, or not?\u201d Hikmahanto said when\ncontacted on Sunday, 22 February 2026.<\/p>\n
He noted that once a country contributes troops, operational control\nmay rest with the mission command. In such circumstances, he said, there\nis a possibility that the command structure could regard national\ncaveats as merely the internal affairs of the contributing nation,\nwhilst decisions on troop movements remain under mission command\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
Hikmahanto also urged the government to exercise caution regarding\nIndonesia\u2019s appointment as Deputy Commander. He suggested the position\ncould be a strategy to ensure Indonesia continues to contribute the\nlargest contingent of troops, given that among the approximately five\ntroop-contributing nations, Indonesia currently provides one of the\nlargest contributions.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-sets-four-national-caveats-for-isf-mission-in-gaza-1771891747", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }