Indonesia Accepts Role as Deputy Commander of Gaza Stabilisation Force
Indonesia has accepted the United States’ offer to assume the position of Deputy Commander of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF). The announcement was made by US Major General Jasper Jeffers — appointed by US President Donald Trump as ISF Commander — during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, D.C.
Jeffers explained that ISF personnel are tasked with ensuring stabilisation in Gaza. The force is planned for deployment across five distinct sectors in the Gaza Strip: Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir el-Balah, Gaza City, and Northern Gaza. Each sector, Jeffers said, will receive one ISF brigade.
“In the short term, we plan to deploy troops to the Rafah sector first, alongside police training,” Jeffers said, as quoted from the White House live broadcast.
The medium-term plan involves expanding troop deployment sector by sector, with a long-term target of stationing 12,000 police officers and 20,000 ISF soldiers.
Jeffers also announced that five nations have committed to sending military personnel to serve in the ISF. The five countries are Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania. Two other nations, Egypt and Jordan, have committed to police training.
“I also want to announce that I have offered, and Indonesia has accepted, the position of ISF Deputy Commander,” Jeffers said. “With these initial steps, we will help bring about the security Gaza needs for a prosperous future and lasting peace.”
At the same event, US President Donald Trump expressed appreciation for the representatives in attendance, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Trump said the nations joining the Board of Peace are not merely contributing money but are also willing to send personnel to maintain the ceasefire and ensure peace in Gaza, Palestine.
Trump then named Indonesia as one of the countries that will send troops to Gaza. “Indonesia, thank you very much, Indonesia. This is a great country,” Trump said.
Indonesia is currently preparing approximately 8,000 Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers for deployment to the Gaza Strip, Palestine, through the ISF. The ISF is planned to operate under the direction of the Board of Peace established by US President Donald Trump, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 2803 on 17 November 2025.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Indonesia’s planned involvement in the International Stabilisation Force has received approval from the Palestinian Authority. Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl Achmad Mulachela said the Palestinian side was informed of the plan and approved it, as it aligns with the humanitarian mission Indonesia brings.
“This was done with the consent of the Palestinian side. This therefore forms an integral part of Indonesia’s involvement in the ISF,” Nabyl said at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Nevertheless, the Indonesian government has yet to announce a departure schedule or technical details, including the operational mandate, duration of deployment, placement locations, and field implementation mechanisms.
Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace has drawn criticism. The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), for instance, argues that membership in this US-led international body betrays the spirit and values of the Indonesian people, who have long sided with Palestine.
YLBHI highlighted the plan to send thousands of Indonesian soldiers to ‘assist’ the US and Israel in demilitarising Hamas in Palestine. YLBHI emphasised that this sets a dangerous precedent for Palestine’s rights as a nation.