Indonesia is preparing a big military contingent of 20,000 soldiers for a possible peacekeeping operation within the Gaza Strip, the country’s Defense Minister has confirmed.
The planned deployment is anticipated to focus heavily on humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, and soldiers might be trained primarily in health and construction specializations.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the move was based on direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto.
“We think we will maximize the preparation of our 20,000 soldiers, but their specifications focus on health as well as construction,” Sjamsoeddin said.
He made his remarks on Friday in Jakarta after meeting with Pilot Major General Yousef Ahmed Al-Hunaity, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces.
Implementation conditions
The Minister stressed that the deployment of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) contingent depends on obtaining international approval through one in all two fundamental mechanisms:
- United Nations (UN) framework: deployment under the auspices of a proper UN peacekeeping mission.
- International Organization: Operating inside a world body that has not yet been established, potentially initiated by the President of the United States.
Sjamsoeddin cautioned that the strategy of finalizing the plan would require significant time and “common understanding,” emphasizing that international and regional consensus is most significant.
Regional consensus required
He added that Indonesia’s involvement is determined by the consent of key Middle Eastern countries.
“We will be fully committed to supporting this if all competent countries agree to Indonesia’s involvement, especially in the case of Arab countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar and the Emirates,” the minister confirmed.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has long been a powerful supporter of the Palestinian cause and continuously participates in UN peacekeeping missions around the globe.
