Indonesia has said it is preparing to deploy up to 8,000 troops to Gaza as part of a proposed international peacekeeping force under Donald Trump’s Middle East plan.
The announcement was made by the Indonesian army chief of staff, General Maruli Simanjuntak, marking the first time a country has given a specific indication of troop numbers for the international stabilisation force envisaged in the plan’s second phase.
Israeli public radio reported on Tuesday that a site in southern Gaza, between Rafah and Khan Younis, has been earmarked for a barracks to house the Indonesian contingent.
If deployed, Indonesian peacekeepers would become the first foreign force to operate in Gaza since 1967. The move would place the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country at the centre of one of the Middle East’s most enduring conflicts.
General Maruli said an army brigade of between 5,000 and 8,000 troops was being considered, though he stressed that discussions were ongoing and no final decision had been made.
“All of this is still being negotiated. There is no certainty on the number at this stage,” he said.
The role of an international force has remained unclear since Trump proposed it as part of a ceasefire plan in September last year. Countries that have been mentioned as potential contributors, including Indonesia, have been wary of being drawn into efforts to disarm Hamas on Israel’s behalf.
Although violence has fallen since a ceasefire was announced in October, Israeli air strikes continue almost daily, and more than 500 Palestinians have been killed since the truce came into effect.
General Maruli suggested Indonesian troops would play a limited, supporting role. He said preparations were focused on engineering and medical units rather than combat operations.
Under a version of the plan outlined by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Gaza would be run by an interim administration of Palestinian technocrats. Disarmament of Hamas would be handled by a Palestinian police force trained in Jordan and Egypt.
The presence of foreign troops, particularly from a Muslim-majority country, is likely to face strong opposition from the far-right elements of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. They view any international involvement as a step towards the creation of a Palestinian state, now recognised by more than 80% of UN member states.
Some Israeli extremists have called for the removal of Gaza’s Palestinian population and the construction of Israeli settlements in the territory.
Netanyahu was due to travel to Washington on Tuesday for talks with Trump on Gaza, Iran and wider regional issues, as competing factions seek to influence how the peace plan will be implemented.
Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, has agreed to join a Trump-led “board of peace”, a group of world leaders intended to oversee the Gaza process and potentially other conflicts. Its first full meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, and Prabowo is expected to attend.
When the plan was unveiled last year, Prabowo initially offered 20,000 troops for the force. The former general has sought to raise Indonesia’s international profile, though some analysts have warned of the risks.
A commentary in the Jakarta Globe described Indonesia’s involvement as a diplomatic gamble, arguing that it would only be worthwhile if it led to genuine influence rather than symbolic participation. It warned that failure could leave Indonesia entangled in a crisis beyond its control.
