Jakarta (TDI): Indonesia has said that a proposed multinational peacekeeping force for Gaza could comprise around 20,000 troops, with Jakarta estimating it could contribute up to 8,000 personnel, President Prabowo Subianto’s spokesman said on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists, presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi stressed that no final decisions had been taken regarding deployment terms, troop numbers, or areas of operation.
“The total number is approximately 20,000 (across countries) … it is not only Indonesia,” Prasetyo said. He added that while the exact figures were still under discussion, Indonesia was preparing internally to potentially contribute up to 8,000 troops if an agreement is reached.
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“We are just preparing ourselves in case an agreement is reached, and we have to send peacekeeping forces,” he said.
President Prabowo has been invited to Washington later this month to attend the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Indonesia had last year said it was ready to prepare 20,000 troops for a possible Gaza peacekeeping mission but has repeatedly emphasized that it is awaiting clarity on the force’s mandate before confirming any deployment.
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Prasetyo also said negotiations would be required before Indonesia commits to paying the reported $1 billion sought for permanent membership of the Board of Peace. He did not specify who those negotiations would involve and said Jakarta had not yet confirmed President Prabowo’s attendance at the board’s inaugural meeting.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s defense ministry rejected reports in Israeli media claiming that Indonesian troops would be deployed in Gaza’s Rafah and Khan Younis areas.
