Indonesia will be the first country to contribute to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) that will handle peacekeeping aspects in Gaza during the Trump administration’s second phase of the ceasefire, Channel 11 reported on Monday.
Over the past few months, Indonesia has been one of the states mentioned as a potential contributor to the ISF task force, along with countries such as the UAE, Egypt, Italy, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey.
Apart from Indonesia, no other country has progressed from general commitments to concrete readiness to deploy troops.
According to the report, it is likely that soon after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attends US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace summit in Washington on February 19, Indonesian forces will be deployed in Gaza.
Neither the ISF in general nor Indonesia in particular is expected to seek direct confrontation with Hamas or proactively disarm the terrorist organization.
Rather, they are expected to oversee current ceasefire lines and, if necessary, address other border-related issues.
Indonesian military likely to mobilize near Khan Yunis, Rafah, in southern Gaza Strip
For example, Indonesian soldiers are expected to supervise some of the defense lines in the Khan Yunis and Rafah areas of southern Gaza.
The coming weeks will still require resolving complex issues, such as the rules of engagement, should Hamas make contact with the Indonesian chapter of the ISF. There are also questions about how many Indonesians will join, with expectations of thousands, if not more.
Moreover, it remains to be seen which countries will follow Indonesia’s example and when.
Finally, if Hamas has not started a serious disarmament process by early May – around the Trump administration’s 100-day deadline – it is unclear whether the ISF would continue or whether Israel might return to major ground operations in Gaza.