Indonesia Postpones Deployment of Peacekeeping Forces to Gaza
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry (Kemenlu) has issued an official statement regarding the deployment of international forces in the Gaza Strip. The government has confirmed that all discussions concerning the Board of Peace (BoP) are currently suspended, including plans to deploy peacekeeping forces to the conflict zone.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nabyl A. Mulachela explained that the decision to postpone Indonesia’s participation in this international mission was made after considering the latest geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
“We wish to state that the deployment of Indonesian peacekeeping forces to Gaza is currently postponed and all discussions relating to the Board of Peace remain on hold,” said Nabyl in Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
This statement emerged in response to international media reports regarding plans to deploy stabilisation forces in Gaza scheduled to begin in May 2026. Nabyl emphasised that Indonesia’s participation in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is not automatic, but must go through strict legal procedures.
He stressed that Indonesian involvement must be fully under national control and based on an official mandate from the United Nations.
“Indonesia’s participation in the ISF is entirely under the control of the Indonesian nation, and is based on the UN Security Council Mandate Resolution 2803 (2025), as well as in line with independent and active foreign policy, Indonesian national interests, and international law,” he added.
Previously, the Israeli public broadcasting agency KAN had reported plans to deploy 5,000 troops from Indonesia alongside other nations such as Kazakhstan and Morocco for the stabilisation phase in southern Gaza (Rafah) beginning 1 May.
The decision to suspend operations was actually initiated in early March 2026, following the escalation of open conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance that erupted at the end of February.
The former Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkan, had previously stated that Jakarta’s primary priority at present is to monitor the safety of Indonesian nationals (WNI) in the increasingly tense Middle East region.
“As conveyed by the Foreign Minister, all discussions with the BoP are currently suspended or, as it is called, on-hold,” the Kemenlu affirmed in an earlier statement.
Currently, the government continues to conduct intensive coordination with Indonesian representatives abroad to ensure maximum protection for all Indonesian nationals in the Middle East conflict-affected region.