Defence Minister: Indonesia Scales Back Gaza Troop Deployment to 8,000 from Planned 20,000
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has announced that Indonesia will deploy 8,000 military personnel as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, Palestine, a significant reduction from the initially planned 20,000 troops.
Sjamsoeddin explained that Indonesia had originally prepared to send approximately 20,000 personnel. However, other participating nations plan to send only hundreds of troops each, prompting Indonesia to adjust its commitment accordingly.
“If we were prepared, ideally we could send 20,000. But it turns out other countries are only sending hundreds. So we are prepared to send 8,000,” Sjamsoeddin stated at the Defence Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March.
Sjamsoeddin emphasised that the actual deployment remains contingent upon developments within the Board of Peace (BoP) and acknowledged uncertainty regarding the timing of deployment. “The President has instructed us to prepare the troops, and we are ready to deploy. However, we are awaiting developments from the BoP. I cannot confirm a timeline because the dynamics remain highly fluid,” he said.
Regarding the situation within the BoP, Sjamsoeddin underscored that Indonesia prioritises national interests whilst ensuring that TNI involvement in international missions incorporates humanitarian considerations. He referenced Indonesia’s constitutional obligation to protect its territory whilst simultaneously honouring commitments outlined in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution regarding humanitarian concerns.
“The tasks we undertake cannot focus solely on conflict management. We must equally consider humanitarian aspects,” Sjamsoeddin added.
President Prabowo Subianto had previously reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to deploying Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel as part of the ISF to maintain peace in the Palestine-Israel conflict region. “The ceasefire achievement is real. We are prepared to deploy our forces to actively participate in the International Stabilization Force to ensure this peace succeeds,” Prabowo stated.
He reiterated that Indonesia’s membership of the BoP is solely directed towards advancing Palestinian independence. “We reaffirm our commitment to contribute with a significant number of personnel—8,000 or more if necessary,” Prabowo declared.