Indonesian peacekeeping personnel deployed to Gaza in phases
Jakarta – Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry (Kemlu) has stated that the deployment of thousands of Indonesian personnel to the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, Palestine, will be conducted in phases, with deployment plans still awaiting finalisation.
“Of course there will be phases, but this still needs to be ensured in detail… because it is not possible to send that many all at once,” said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang when met after a media briefing in Jakarta on Friday (27 February).
She added that phased deployment is standard practice in peacekeeping force operations, including for Indonesian personnel who will serve with the ISF.
The technical details of deploying Indonesian forces to Gaza, according to Yvonne, will still be finalised by Kemlu with relevant parties such as the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and the Ministry of Defence (Kemhan). Discussion will cover the mandate limitations (caveats) for Indonesian personnel in Gaza, such as emphasis on non-combat missions only and not for demilitarisation, she said.
Yvonne stressed that Kemlu is actively involved with Kemhan in the entire planning process for deploying Indonesian forces for the humanitarian mission in Gaza.
At the Board of Peace (BoP) Summit in Washington on 19 February, President Prabowo Subianto affirmed Indonesia’s readiness to send at least 8,000 personnel to participate in the peacekeeping mission in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the first contingent of forces within the ISF is likely to be deployed to Gaza in early April, according to a report from news portal Asharq Al-Awsat, citing US mediator in negotiations with Hamas, Bishara Bahbah.
Bahbah stated that Indonesian forces will be stationed in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, whilst units from other nations will be responsible for other areas in the region.
“As far as I know, the first contingent of forces as part of this force will enter Gaza in early April, and a larger contingent will be deployed next month,” he said on Thursday (26 February).