8,000 TNI Troops Heading to Gaza Will Not Engage in Combat Operations, Departing by June 2026 at the Latest
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has affirmed that the country’s military deployment to Gaza will be entirely for humanitarian purposes and not combat operations. This comes in response to the deployment of 8,000 troops as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza for a peacekeeping mission, scheduled to depart by June this year at the latest.
Indonesia has prepared its forces for possible deployment as part of the Gaza International Stabilisation Force (ISF). Indonesian personnel participating in the ISF in Gaza will remain entirely under Indonesian national command, operating under the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), Indonesia’s Free and Active Foreign Policy, and international law.
“They will not be positioned against any party. Indonesian personnel will not be involved in combat operations or any actions leading to direct confrontation with any armed party,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The Ministry explained that the scope of duties for Indonesian personnel is limited and specific, in accordance with the mandate and binding national caveats established by the Indonesian Government and agreed upon with the ISF.
The key national caveats governing Indonesian personnel’s participation in the ISF stipulate that, beyond not being positioned against any party, Indonesian personnel are restricted to non-combat and non-demilitarisation mandates. This means Indonesia’s participation is neither for combat missions nor for demilitarisation operations.
“Indonesia’s mandate is humanitarian in nature, focusing on civilian protection, humanitarian and health assistance, reconstruction, and training and capacity building for the Palestinian Police,” the Ministry said.
The use of force by Indonesian personnel is also strictly limited, permitted only for self-defence and mandate protection, exercised proportionally, in graduated steps, as a last resort, and fully in accordance with international law and the Rules of Engagement.
Regarding the area of assignment, it is specifically restricted to Gaza, which constitutes an integral part of Palestinian territory. Furthermore, Palestinian consent is a prerequisite — personnel deployment can only proceed with approval from the Palestinian authorities as a fundamental condition.
Indonesia, the Ministry continued, consistently rejects all attempts at demographic change or forced displacement or relocation of the Palestinian people in any form. Grounded in the principles of respect for Palestinian sovereignty and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the presence of Indonesian personnel may be terminated at any time.