Indonesia’s Defense Ministry has said that if troops are sent to the enclave, their focus will likely be on health and reconstruction.
Published November 14, 2025
Indonesia is preparing up to 20,000 soldiers for a planned International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, the defense minister has said, but its composition and powers are the subject of a nasty dispute.
Shafri Shamsoddin told reporters on Friday that if soldiers were sent to the Palestinian enclave, which has been devastated by Israel’s more than two years of genocidal war, they would likely focus on medical and construction-related missions.
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“We are waiting for further decisions on Gaza peace actions,” Shamsoyeddin said.
Under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, ISF will be deployed to Gaza to secure a long-term ceasefire.
Shamsoeddin said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will discuss President Trump’s initiative with King Abdullah of Jordan during his royal visit to the world’s most populous Islamic nation.
He did not provide details on how many soldiers would be sent or when they would be deployed, but noted that the decision rested with Prabowo.
Many uncertainties remain about President Trump’s ISF initiative, including its composition and authority.
The US government said it had discussed military contributions with Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Israel has already said it will not accept Turkiye, a key figure in brokering the Gaza ceasefire, to play any role there.
Turkiye has been harshly critical of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip over the past two years, recently issuing arrest warrants for genocide against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.
Last week, the U.S. mission to the United Nations formally circulated a draft resolution for negotiations.
The draft agreement, seen by AFP news agency, would give a two-year mandate to Gaza’s transitional governing body, known as the peace commission, which will be chaired by President Trump.
It would also allow member states to form “temporary” ISFs to secure humanitarian corridors and borders and support “the permanent destruction of weapons from non-state armed groups.” Although Hamas has not committed to demilitarization, this is a key principle of its 20-point plan.
The ISF will also work with Israeli, Egyptian, and newly trained Palestinian police forces to achieve its objectives.
The US plan was dealt a blow when Russia presented a “counter-proposal” to the UN Security Council.
A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said Thursday that the U.S.’s “attempts to sow discord” over the resolution could have serious repercussions.
They added that the failure of the October 10 ceasefire would have “grave, concrete and completely avoidable consequences” for Palestinians living in Gaza.
In a speech last week, President Trump expressed hope that U.S.-coordinated ISF could be in Gaza “soon.”
