Indonesia Prepares Up to 8,000 Troops for Gaza as Deployment Terms Remain Unsettled

Training Begins Before a Final Deployment Decision

Indonesia is preparing up to 8,000 soldiers for a possible deployment to Gaza under United States President Donald Trump's peace plan, with training already under way for troops assigned to engineering and medical work. As of February 11, 2026, the proposed contingent could become the largest contribution to an international force of approximately 20,000 personnel, although Jakarta has yet to settle its troop numbers, deployment locations or operating terms.

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak confirmed that specialized training had begun. Indonesia has become the first nation to commit military forces publicly to the proposed stabilization effort, while its officials continue to stress that the arrangements remain subject to negotiations and political approval.

The deployment would mark the first presence of foreign troops in Gaza since 1967. It would also place Indonesia, the world's most populous nation with a Muslim majority, at the center of an effort to secure the devastated territory and support its recovery.

Presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said the multinational force could comprise approximately 20,000 troops from several countries. An Indonesian contingent of 8,000 would account for 40 percent of that proposed total, making Jakarta's decisions about personnel and responsibilities central to the size and shape of the mission.

Indonesia's soldiers would focus primarily on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction, including medical support and engineering operations, rather than direct combat against Palestinian militant groups. Their proposed role sits within a broader security mission whose responsibilities include supporting Palestinian police, securing border areas and overseeing demilitarization.

The preparations come as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas enters its next phase. Mediators are trying to turn the truce into a framework for lasting stability, while Jakarta, Washington and regional stakeholders negotiate how an international presence would work.

What the International Force Would Do

The International Stabilization Force has authorization from the United Nations Security Council to secure Gaza's border regions, support Palestinian police and oversee the territory's demilitarization. Demilitarization means removing weapons and military capabilities so armed groups cannot resume fighting or rebuild their infrastructure.

The Security Council resolution explicitly assigns the force responsibility for the permanent decommissioning of weapons held by armed groups outside state control. In Gaza, the central issue is the disarmament of Hamas, which remains at odds with the conditions the group has set for giving up its weapons.

Planning documents discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month described international troops working alongside newly trained Palestinian police. Together, they would secure humanitarian corridors, the routes used to move relief supplies and assistance, and prevent the rebuilding of militant infrastructure.

Indonesia's proposed medical and engineering work would address civilian needs within that wider mission. Medical personnel could support humanitarian operations, while engineering units would take part in reconstruction. The final agreement would determine how those responsibilities fit alongside the force's security duties.

United States officials say international troops would not engage in direct combat with Hamas, although the force would be authorized to use force for demilitarization purposes if necessary. For countries considering contributions, that combination makes the exact operating rules especially consequential: a humanitarian assignment could take place within a mission that also has authority to enforce disarmament.

A Washington Meeting and a Disputed Membership Cost

President Prabowo Subianto's decision to join Trump's Board of Peace links Indonesia's troop preparations to a new diplomatic structure intended to oversee conflict resolution in Gaza and potentially other global hotspots. The board is due to hold its inaugural meeting in Washington on February 19, 2026.

The Board of Peace operates alongside the International Stabilization Force. Participating countries would contribute troops and funding to stabilization efforts under direct United States leadership, creating a structure parallel to traditional United Nations peacekeeping arrangements.

The relationship between the board and established United Nations institutions has prompted concerns about diplomatic precedence and accountability. The Security Council mandate gives the stabilization force its security responsibilities, while the board provides the proposed political mechanism for overseeing the wider effort.

Permanent membership of the board carries a reported price tag of $1 billion. Prasetyo said Jakarta intended to negotiate that contribution before finalizing its participation, adding a financial decision to the unresolved military and diplomatic arrangements.

Prabowo has received a formal invitation to the February 19 meeting but has not confirmed whether he will attend. Final deployment decisions may await his participation. Deputy Defense Minister Donny Hermawan has indicated that final political approval from the president is expected by the end of February, following the Washington meeting.

Prabowo Faces Pressure at Home

Prabowo, a former army general who took office in October 2024, is pursuing the Gaza mission as part of an effort to raise Indonesia's global standing. He has argued that Indonesia has a particular responsibility to help stabilize Gaza and ease Palestinian suffering because of its position as the world's largest nation with a Muslim majority.

The president has framed participation as support for an eventual two state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. That goal would involve an Israeli state and a Palestinian state, and it remains central to his explanation of why Indonesia should take part.

Islamic groups in Indonesia have criticized his alignment with Trump's initiative. Public anger over American support for Israel's military operations remains intense, and critics question whether joining a framework led by the United States would serve Palestinian interests or give legitimacy to continued Israeli occupation.

The Jakarta Globe's editorial position described Indonesia's participation as a diplomatic gamble, worthwhile only if it delivers real influence rather than symbolism. It warned that the country could become entangled in a conflict it cannot control.

Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, reflecting decades of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Prabowo nevertheless said last year that Jakarta would consider establishing ties if Israel recognized Palestinian statehood. His position combines Indonesia's traditional support for Palestinians with an attempt to engage in international peace efforts, a balance critics say participation in Trump's board could compromise.

Hamas Disarmament Remains the Central Dispute

Hamas has publicly refused to lay down its arms while Israeli occupation forces remain in Gaza and before a Palestinian state is established. That position puts the group's demands directly against the stabilization force's mandate to oversee the permanent removal of weapons held by nonstate armed groups.

Trump has presented a much more confident account of the prospects for disarmament. Speaking at a White House event, the United States president said Hamas had assured him it would give up its weapons and warned that it would otherwise be disarmed.

Everyone says, "Oh, well, they won't disarm." They will disarm. I spoke to Hamas, and I said, "You're going to disarm, right?" "Yes, sir, we're going to disarm." That's what they told me. They will disarm or we will disarm them. Got it?

Hamas leaders' public statements point to a different timetable, tied to the departure of Israeli forces and the establishment of Palestinian statehood. Regional analysts have also questioned whether disarmament can proceed on the proposed schedule without concrete steps toward Palestinian sovereignty.

Indonesia and the other prospective contributors therefore face a practical problem. Their troops are being discussed as peacekeepers and providers of humanitarian support, yet the international mandate includes a task Hamas currently rejects. The agreement on what soldiers would be expected to do if disarmament stalls will shape the risks they face.

A Ceasefire Under Continuing Strain

More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in near daily Israeli bombardments since the October ceasefire began, according to monitoring groups. Continuing attacks make the security environment difficult even before an international contingent arrives.

Israeli forces control approximately 53 percent of Gaza's territory, while Hamas retains authority in the remaining areas. The stabilization force is currently expected to deploy first in areas under Israeli control.

That proposed starting point could create friction with local populations who view foreign troops as assisting occupation rather than helping to bring peace. Indonesia's emphasis on medical care and reconstruction would unfold within this divided territory, where the ceasefire has yet to bring dependable security.

The deployment discussions therefore involve more than finding places for troops to stay. International soldiers would need to carry out humanitarian and security responsibilities while Israeli forces remain in much of Gaza, Hamas continues to exercise authority elsewhere and ceasefire violations occur almost daily.

Which Countries Might Join Indonesia?

Pakistan and Turkey have expressed interest in the stabilization force but have stipulated that their soldiers would serve strictly as peacekeepers and would not take part in disarming Hamas. Their conditions show how the disarmament requirement is shaping negotiations over the coalition.

Azerbaijan has also emerged as a potential contributor, according to United States defense officials. Morocco is positioned to become the second country to commit forces formally, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Bangladesh, Egypt and Qatar have signaled interest as well.

Indonesia remains the only country to have made a firm public commitment to date. Saudi Arabia and Jordan, both key American allies, have declined to contribute troops under any circumstances, limiting regional participation in Trump's approach and complicating efforts to assemble a broad coalition of Muslim countries.

Thailand has separately offered up to 20,000 troops for health and construction tasks. That proposed contribution could supplement the humanitarian focus of Indonesia's contingent. Its stated size equals the approximately 20,000 personnel Prasetyo described for the entire multinational force, underlining how much remains to be settled about contributions and the eventual total.

The United States has deployed 200 troops to Israel to coordinate stabilization efforts from a coordination center north of Gaza. Personnel from United States Central Command, known as CENTCOM, are working there alongside Egyptian, Qatari and Emirati representatives.

Indonesia and Azerbaijan fall outside CENTCOM's traditional area of responsibility. Arranging command and control for their forces would require additional logistical work and could delay deployment. Command and control covers who directs the troops, how orders are communicated and how different national contingents coordinate their operations.

The range of proposed contributions reflects the experimental character of the force. The mission lacks a precedent in Middle East peacekeeping history and has no established doctrine for operating in an active conflict zone where the main militant group refuses to disarm.

Troop Numbers and Locations Are Still Being Negotiated

Maruli has cautioned that Indonesia's preparations should not be read as a settled deployment size. The army chief of staff said negotiations were continuing and the final number remained uncertain.

it's all still being negotiated, not certain. So there's no certainty on the number until now.

Indonesian officials have discussed estimates ranging from as few as 600 personnel to a full brigade of 8,000, depending on the final mandate. The lower figure would represent a much smaller contribution than the contingent now being prepared.

The Indonesian Defense Ministry has denied Israeli media claims that a location between Rafah and Khan Younis had been designated for Indonesian barracks. The ministry said operational details had not been finalized and would be announced only after an official decision.

The House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees foreign affairs and defense, has recommended against sending a very large contingent because of Gaza's compact geography. The territory was described as spanning less than 45 square kilometers, roughly the size of Indonesia's Central Jakarta district, raising practical concerns about accommodating thousands of foreign soldiers alongside a displaced civilian population of two million people.

Jakarta has not given a deployment date or finalized the locations and operating rules. The decisions still under negotiation cover the scale of the contingent, its specific duties and how it would function within the broader force. Continuing violence and Hamas's refusal to disarm while Israeli occupation continues could leave Indonesian troops trying to keep a peace that is not yet secure.

The Dates Leading to a Final Decision

Indonesia's preparations bring together developments stretching from Prabowo's arrival in office to the upcoming Board of Peace meeting. The next stated political milestone is in Washington, followed by the expected decision on approval later in February.

• October 2024: Prabowo Subianto took office as Indonesia's president.
• 2025: Prabowo said Indonesia would consider diplomatic relations with Israel if it recognized Palestinian statehood.
• October 2025: The Gaza ceasefire began; monitoring groups say more than 500 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli bombardments.
• January 2026: Planning documents discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos outlined cooperation between international troops and newly trained Palestinian police.
• February 11, 2026: Indonesia is preparing up to 8,000 soldiers, with specialized training under way and deployment terms still being negotiated.
• February 19, 2026: The Board of Peace is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting in Washington. Prabowo has been invited but has not confirmed attendance.
• End of February 2026: Deputy Defense Minister Donny Hermawan expects final political approval from Prabowo.

Indonesia's public commitment has moved the stabilization proposal closer to assembling a force. The forthcoming decisions will determine whether the troops being trained for medical and engineering work are sent, how many go and what responsibilities they carry in Gaza.

Key Points

• Indonesia is preparing up to 8,000 troops for a proposed multinational force of approximately 20,000 personnel.
• Specialized training has begun, with Indonesian soldiers expected to focus on medical support, engineering and reconstruction.
• The proposed deployment would mark the first foreign troop presence in Gaza since 1967.
• The United Nations Security Council mandate includes border security, support for Palestinian police and demilitarization.
• Hamas refuses to disarm while Israeli occupation forces remain and before a Palestinian state is established.
• Prabowo has joined Trump's Board of Peace, whose first meeting is scheduled for February 19 in Washington.
• Indonesia intends to negotiate the reported $1 billion contribution for permanent board membership.
• Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco and other countries are considering participation; Saudi Arabia and Jordan have declined to send troops.
• Indonesia's final troop numbers, locations and operating terms remain unsettled, with political approval expected by the end of February.