Hamas Responds to International Stabilisation Force with Indonesia as Deputy Commander
Hamas has spoken out regarding the international peacekeeping force for Gaza. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group welcomes the newly established International Stabilisation Force (ISF) but rejects any interference in Gaza’s “internal affairs”.
At the inaugural meeting of the “Peace Council” convened by US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, it was announced that several countries, including Indonesia, would contribute troops to the ISF. Indonesia was appointed as the force’s deputy commander.
“Our position regarding international forces is clear,” Hamas spokesman Qassem told AFP on Saturday (21/2/2026).
“We want peacekeeping forces that monitor the ceasefire, ensure its implementation, and act as a buffer between the occupying army and our people in the Gaza Strip, without interfering in Gaza’s internal affairs,” he added.
The ISF aims to comprise 20,000 soldiers, along with a new police force. Indonesia has declared its readiness to deploy up to 8,000 troops.
Nickolay Mladenov, appointed as the US high representative for Gaza, announced at the Peace Council meeting the commencement of recruitment for a post-Hamas police force in Gaza.
“Training Palestinian police forces within their national framework is not a problem if the objective is to maintain internal security in the Gaza Strip and confront the chaos that the occupation and its militias seek to create,” Qassem added.
Previously, Indonesian Army Information Service Chief Brigadier General Donny Pramono stated that Indonesia is prepared to deploy up to 1,000 soldiers to Gaza in April, with numbers potentially increasing to 8,000 by the end of June this year.
Indonesia became the first country to openly declare its willingness to send troops to Gaza. If realised, this would represent one of the largest contributions to a peacekeeping mission worldwide. However, troop deployment still awaits final approval from President Prabowo.
Besides Indonesia, Trump said countries that have committed to providing troops include Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania.