FPI Urges TNI Soldiers in Gaza Not to Confront Hamas

The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has warned the government about plans to deploy 8,000 Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel to the Gaza Strip, Palestine. FPI cautioned that deployed troops should not face Hamas directly, the Palestinian militant group that guards the Gaza Strip. This was stated by Hanif Alatas, Secretary of the Shura Council of the DPP FPI, after attending an iftar with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 5 March 2026. Hanif said he represented Rizieq Shihab who was invited by Prabowo. ‘We request that there be no Indonesian soldiers dispatched to Gaza who then directly confront the fighters in Hamas; we do not want that,’ Hanif said on Thursday night. Hanif said FPI would actually support deployments if the aim is to help achieve Palestinian independence, and FPI is prepared to mobilise volunteers to Gaza. However, deploying troops under the mandate of the Board of Peace (the Peace Council) established by the United States would have different implications. ‘If sent to Gaza to liberate Palestine, we support it and we are ready to support volunteers. But if sent to Gaza under US command, and then disarming the fighters in Gaza, ultimately leading to confrontation, this is what we do not want,’ he said. In addition, FPI called for Indonesia to withdraw from the Board of Peace. Hanif said the request had been formally conveyed via a letter entrusted to one of his ministers to deliver to President Prabowo. ‘We have delivered the letter, entrusted through one of his ministers, and we have told the President that we still urge Indonesia to withdraw from the BOP. Not because we distrust the President, but because we do not trust America, we do not trust Israel,’ he said. Indonesia has committed to sending 8,000 TNI soldiers to the Gaza Strip through the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The total personnel deployed by Indonesia is higher than any other country involved in the ISF. The force is led by Commander Jasper Jeffers, a US-major-general. Meanwhile, at the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council in Washington D.C. on 19 February 2026, Indonesia was appointed Deputy Commander of the ISF. The troops slated for deployment come from the Army’s Engineer Corps, the health battalion, the mechanised battalion, and the support battalion. The Foreign Ministry stated that Indonesian forces will use weapons in a limited self-defence capacity with a non-combatant or non-direct-combat participation; the TNI will not disarm fighters and will focus on delivering humanitarian aid.