Indonesia Pledges Up to 8,000 Troops for Gaza International Stabilization Force

Indonesia Commits Troops to Gaza Stabilization Effort

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced on Thursday, February 19, 2026, that Indonesia is prepared to deploy up to 8,000 troops to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. The significant pledge was made during the inaugural Board of Peace (BoP) meeting held in Washington, D.C., chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Subianto expressed optimism regarding the peace initiative, stating, 'We are very optimistic that with the leadership of (US) President (Donald) Trump, this vision of real peace will be achieved.' He further added, 'There will be problems, but we will prevail.' Indonesia has also accepted an offer from the United States to assume a deputy commander role within the ISF.

The International Stabilization Force Mandate

The International Stabilization Force is a United Nations-mandated multinational peacekeeping force, established as part of a Gaza peace plan agreed upon by Hamas and Israel in October 2025. Its primary objectives include:

• Providing security in the Gaza Strip.
• Training a new Palestinian police force.
• Overseeing the demilitarization and redevelopment of the territory.
• Creating a secure, demilitarized, and 'terror-free' Gaza.

The ISF is projected to comprise 20,000 soldiers and 12,000 Palestinian police officers, with training for these forces expected to take place in Egypt and Jordan.

Indonesia's Role and Deployment Details

Indonesia's commitment makes it one of the first nations to publicly pledge a substantial number of troops to the ISF. Other countries that have committed troops include Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania. President Subianto indicated that an advance team could be dispatched to Gaza within one to two months to conduct reconnaissance and risk analysis, with the full deployment of up to 8,000 troops potentially following by April or June.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has clarified that the deployment will be strictly for humanitarian purposes and will not involve combat operations. The Ministry emphasized that Indonesia would 'terminate participation if the ISF's implementation deviates' from the agreed terms, underscoring Jakarta's commitment to its constitutional mandate of supporting Palestinian independence.

The Board of Peace Initiative

The inaugural Board of Peace meeting, which saw the troop pledge, is a multilateral body spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump. Its mandate includes overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza and fostering broader regional stability. The initiative was endorsed under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025). During the meeting, several nations, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, pledged significant financial contributions for Gaza's reconstruction, with the U.S. committing $10 billion to the Board of Peace.