March 12, 2026 | 07:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the 8,000 soldiers are primed for deployment under the Board of Peace's international stabilization force (ISF), but it remains uncertain when they will depart for Gaza.
"We are awaiting the developments from Board of Peace," he said after a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Australia, Richard Marles, at his office on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sjafrie highlighted the dynamics within the Trump-initiated peace board, especially with the war waged against Iran by two of its members, Israel and the United States.
Nevertheless, he said, peacekeeper deployment to Gaza is oriented toward the country's national interest. This, the minister went on, has been mandated under the constitution that obliges the state to protect Indonesia in its entirety.
Therefore, he stated that the departure of 8,000 soldiers as Peacekeeping Forces must consider the humanitarian aspects. "Our task must not focus solely on dealing with a conflict," said Sjafrie.
Gaza Deployment Plan Met with Growing Dissent
The plan to send 8,000 Indonesian troops to Gaza has been met with opposition from various parties, including the Forum of Retired Indonesian Military (TNI) Members (FPP).
The forum deemed Indonesia's involvement in the Trump-backed International Stabilization Force (ISF) a violation of the country's constitution.
Retired General Fachrul Razi explained that Indonesia's involvement in international peacekeeping forces can only be carried out under a UN mandate and not any other organization.
"Especially with the Board of Peace that is headed by an American general. This truly offends the feelings of our Palestinian friends," Fachrul said after the FPP meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Additionally, the deployment of a large-scale troop like this must also be coordinated, consulted, and approved by the House of Representatives (DPR). FPP believes that the lack of a thorough planning process with the parliament, and the decision made solely by the president indicate that TNI's involvement in ISF is not a national agenda, but Prabowo's personal project.
"According to the constitution, strategic decisions must receive approval from the DPR and all relevant parties," Fachrul said.
The former Religious Affairs Minister said Prabowo's claim that Indonesia would not be involved in armed operations, coupled with Indonesia's strategic role as the Deputy Commander of ISF, does not sufficiently guarantee that ISF will not oppress Palestine as promised by the United States.
In the military, Fachrul mentioned, the positions of deputy commander and commander are a package deal. When the commander represented by the US decides to carry out a disarmament operation, it is impossible for the Indonesian deputy commander to refuse.
Dede Leni contributed to the writing of this article.
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