Indonesia is preparing to contribute to an international peacekeeping mission in Gaza, with its defense minister announcing the readiness of 20,000 troops focused on humanitarian tasks. This move occurs amidst a significant and controversial shift in the country's foreign policy under President Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stated that a contingent of up to 20,000 troops has been prepared for a potential mission in Gaza. He emphasized that the force's specifications would revolve around health and construction, highlighting a focus on treating war victims, restoring essential services, and rebuilding key infrastructure devastated by the conflict .
This preparation aligns with Indonesia's long-standing advocacy for a two-state solution and its history of providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians . The deployment would be part of the US-proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) under President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza . However, the Indonesian government has made it clear that the final decision on deployment rests with President Prabowo and is contingent on a clear mandate, which has not yet been finalized .
The planned peacekeeping engagement takes place against the backdrop of a notable change in Indonesia's diplomatic posture under President Prabowo. While Indonesia has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently condemned violence in Gaza, Prabowo's recent statements have marked a departure from tradition .
In a speech at the UN General Assembly, he stated that the world must "recognise and guarantee the safety and security of Israel," concluding with the word "shalom" . This tone is markedly different from that of his predecessors, who prioritized Palestinian self-determination without explicitly addressing Israel's security . This shift has drawn praise from the Trump administration and Israeli leadership but has sparked concern and condemnation domestically, given the deep-rooted public support for Palestine in the world's most populous Muslim nation .
Indonesia's foreign policy has historically been defined by unwavering solidarity with Palestine, a principle rooted in its constitution's anti-colonial ethos since the era of its first president, Sukarno. This has resulted in a public and political landscape where support for Palestine is overwhelming. A June 2025 poll found that 80 percent of Indonesians hold unfavorable views of Israel, and there is strong opposition to establishing diplomatic ties .
Past leaders who tested this consensus faced severe backlash. President Abdurrahman Wahid's suggestion of opening economic links with Israel in 1999 was met with widespread criticism . More recently, in 2023, Indonesia was stripped of hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup after protests over Israel's participation . This context makes Prabowo's engagement a politically sensitive gamble, requiring a careful balance between new international ambitions and potent domestic sentiments .
For Indonesia's participation to proceed, several diplomatic and legal conditions must be met. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has stated that the country would require a UN Security Council mandate to join the force . Defense Minister Sjamsoeddin also noted that a second option for deployment would be under a framework initiated by the US president, but this would require high-level diplomatic agreements between heads of state and, critically, Israel's approval for the plan .
The US draft resolution for the force, which would authorize it to "use all necessary measures" to demilitarize Gaza, has been met with a counter-proposal from Russia at the UN, adding a layer of complexity to the international negotiations . As the world watches how this diplomatic process unfolds, Indonesia's potential role in Gaza remains in a state of uncertainty, poised between its historic principles, its new geopolitical aspirations, and the urgent needs of the people of Gaza.