Indonesia weighs troop size and terms for proposed Gaza peacekeeping force

A proposed multinational peacekeeping force for Gaza could involve around 20,000 personnel, with Indonesia estimating it may contribute up to 8,000, a spokesman for Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday.

Subianto stressed that no deployment terms or operational areas have been agreed.

The comments come ahead of Prabowo’s expected trip to Washington later this month for the first meeting of Board of Peace, created by President Donald Trump.

Indonesia committed last year to readying 20,000 troops for a potential Gaza mission, though officials say final participation depends on clarity over the mandate.

Presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said the 20,000 figure reflected contributions from several countries.

“The total number is approximately 20,000 across countries ... it is not only Indonesia,” he told journalists, adding that Indonesia’s estimate of 8,000 remained provisional.

“We are just preparing ourselves in case an agreement is reached and we have to send peacekeeping forces.”

Hadi also said negotiations would take place before Indonesia agreed to pay the $1 billion being requested for permanent membership in the Board of Peace, without specifying who the talks would involve.

He added that Prabowo’s attendance at the 19 February meeting had not yet been confirmed.

Indonesia’s defence ministry separately rejected Israeli media reports claiming its troops would be deployed in Rafah and Khan Younis.

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Spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirat told Reuters that Indonesia’s contribution remained under discussion.

“Operational matters (deployment location, number of personnel, schedule, mechanism) have not yet been finalised and will be announced once an official decision has been made and the necessary international mandate has been clarified,” he said.

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