With 8,000 troops: Indonesia prepares to join the international force in Gaza

Indonesia confirmed on Tuesday its readiness to contribute up to 8,000 troops, provided that an agreement is reached defining the international mandate and the conditions for deployment in Gaza.

A spokesperson for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the proposed multinational peacekeeping force for the Gaza Strip could reach around 20,000 troops, noting that Jakarta’s estimates indicate Indonesia could contribute up to 8,000 soldiers to this force.

The spokesperson explained that deployment conditions and areas of operation have not yet been agreed upon, stressing that Indonesia is “only preparing” in the event that an agreement necessitates the deployment of peacekeeping forces, without finalizing operational details or the required international mandate.

In this context, Prabowo has received an invitation to visit Washington later this month to attend the first meeting of the Peace Council proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Last year, Indonesia pledged to prepare 20,000 troops for potential deployment as part of a peacekeeping force in Gaza, while emphasizing that it would await clarification of the mandate before confirming its participation.

Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi stated that “the total number is close to 20,000 troops from various countries, not from Indonesia alone,” adding that the exact figure has not yet been discussed.

He also referred to negotiations preceding the payment of one billion dollars required to obtain permanent membership in the Peace Council, without specifying the parties involved or confirming the Indonesian president’s attendance at the council meeting.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense denied Israeli media reports claiming that Indonesian forces would be deployed in Rafah and Khan Younis.

Ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait affirmed that Indonesia’s plans to contribute to peace efforts and humanitarian support in the Gaza Strip remain in the preparation and coordination stages, and that operational issues — including deployment location, troop numbers, timeframe, and mechanisms — have not yet been finalized. These details will be announced once an official decision is made and the necessary international mandate is clearly established.