PDIP's Reasons for Questioning Plan to Deploy TNI Troops to Gaza
A member of the House of Representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Tubagus Hasanuddin, has criticised the government's plan to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza, Palestine. He said the government needs to carefully consider the plan to deploy thousands of TNI soldiers as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to Gaza, given the high risks involved.
He stated that the deployment of peacekeeping troops must obtain the consent of both conflicting parties, namely Hamas and the Israel Defence Force (IDF).
"If this policy is forced through without the agreement of both parties, TNI participation risks being trapped in a re-escalation of the conflict," Hasanuddin said in a written statement on Monday, 16 February 2026.
The Commission I member of the DPR noted that the ISF, which operates under the Board of Peace (BoP), only includes Israel in its membership, whilst Palestine is not represented in the global organisation established by United States President Donald John Trump.
He affirmed that PDIP shares the same view regarding Palestinian independence as a constitutional mandate. However, efforts to achieve Palestinian independence must be pursued through appropriate means with minimal risk.
"Moreover, Hamas leaders recently stated their opposition to the presence of the ISF and BoP in Palestine," he said.
On a separate occasion, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto urged that the troop deployment to Gaza should adhere to the traditions Indonesia has long upheld. He expressed hope that President Prabowo Subianto would continue Indonesia's free and active foreign policy by embracing nations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to strengthen international solidarity.
"PDIP hopes for the mobilisation of the majority of nations at the United Nations, rather than forming a new body outside UN mechanisms," Hasto said.
The deployment of TNI soldiers to Gaza is part of Indonesia's decision to join the ISF in November 2025. The ISF was designed by the United States and endorsed as UN Security Council Resolution Number 2803.
Two months after the formation of the ISF, Donald Trump established the Board of Peace. The council was officially launched in Switzerland on 22 January 2026. President Prabowo attended the event.
Members of the Board of Peace come from countries that received invitations from Trump. Indonesia was invited and declared its membership in the global organisation. Israel is also a member of the Board of Peace.
In a written statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the TNI soldiers to be deployed to Gaza would not be involved in combat operations. The ministry stated that ISF personnel would only have a limited and specific scope of duties, in accordance with their mandate and national caveats.
"Indonesia's mandate is humanitarian in nature, focusing on civilian protection, humanitarian and health assistance, reconstruction, as well as training and capacity building for the Palestinian police," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Last Wednesday, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan reaffirmed that Palestine rejects all forms of foreign trusteeship in Gaza. He said any international peacekeeping force deployed to the territory must be limited to border duties and preventing Israeli attacks without interfering in internal governance.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, as quoted by the Jordan Daily, Hamdan responded to Indonesia's announcement that it could send thousands of troops as part of a stabilisation force in Gaza. Hamdan said Hamas had communicated directly with Jakarta and emphasised that any foreign troops must remain neutral and not act in ways that contradict Palestinian will or function as a replacement for Israeli occupation.
He stated that the deployment of peacekeeping troops must obtain the consent of both conflicting parties, namely Hamas and the Israel Defence Force (IDF).
"If this policy is forced through without the agreement of both parties, TNI participation risks being trapped in a re-escalation of the conflict," Hasanuddin said in a written statement on Monday, 16 February 2026.
The Commission I member of the DPR noted that the ISF, which operates under the Board of Peace (BoP), only includes Israel in its membership, whilst Palestine is not represented in the global organisation established by United States President Donald John Trump.
He affirmed that PDIP shares the same view regarding Palestinian independence as a constitutional mandate. However, efforts to achieve Palestinian independence must be pursued through appropriate means with minimal risk.
"Moreover, Hamas leaders recently stated their opposition to the presence of the ISF and BoP in Palestine," he said.
On a separate occasion, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto urged that the troop deployment to Gaza should adhere to the traditions Indonesia has long upheld. He expressed hope that President Prabowo Subianto would continue Indonesia's free and active foreign policy by embracing nations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to strengthen international solidarity.
"PDIP hopes for the mobilisation of the majority of nations at the United Nations, rather than forming a new body outside UN mechanisms," Hasto said.
The deployment of TNI soldiers to Gaza is part of Indonesia's decision to join the ISF in November 2025. The ISF was designed by the United States and endorsed as UN Security Council Resolution Number 2803.
Two months after the formation of the ISF, Donald Trump established the Board of Peace. The council was officially launched in Switzerland on 22 January 2026. President Prabowo attended the event.
Members of the Board of Peace come from countries that received invitations from Trump. Indonesia was invited and declared its membership in the global organisation. Israel is also a member of the Board of Peace.
In a written statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the TNI soldiers to be deployed to Gaza would not be involved in combat operations. The ministry stated that ISF personnel would only have a limited and specific scope of duties, in accordance with their mandate and national caveats.
"Indonesia's mandate is humanitarian in nature, focusing on civilian protection, humanitarian and health assistance, reconstruction, as well as training and capacity building for the Palestinian police," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Last Wednesday, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan reaffirmed that Palestine rejects all forms of foreign trusteeship in Gaza. He said any international peacekeeping force deployed to the territory must be limited to border duties and preventing Israeli attacks without interfering in internal governance.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, as quoted by the Jordan Daily, Hamdan responded to Indonesia's announcement that it could send thousands of troops as part of a stabilisation force in Gaza. Hamdan said Hamas had communicated directly with Jakarta and emphasised that any foreign troops must remain neutral and not act in ways that contradict Palestinian will or function as a replacement for Israeli occupation.