Indonesia Focuses on Civilian Protection for Proposed Gaza Peacekeeping Force

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has stressed that Indonesia’s planned peacekeeping deployment to Gaza—currently on hold—is not intended to disarm Hamas, but to safeguard civilians caught in the conflict.

“We do not want to be involved in taking weapons, in deweaponization, from Hamas. That is not our role. What we want is to protect civilians from any attack,” President Prabowo said in a televised interview Presiden Prabowo Menjawab (President Prabowo Answers) on Friday, March 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the mission reflects Indonesia’s longstanding commitment to supporting Palestinian independence. “This is the continuation of Indonesia’s struggle. We have always defended Palestine’s right to freedom,” he said.

President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia’s participation in the proposed Board of Peace (BoP) framework would only proceed with broad approval from regional stakeholders. Consent from Palestinian leaders and majority-Muslim countries -- including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt -- would be essential.

Equally important, he noted, is acceptance from Hamas itself. “Hamas must agree to our presence. We want to be a peacekeeping force,” President Prabowo stated.

Under BoP rules, national caveats allow each country to set its own limits on involvement. Prabowo made clear that Indonesia’s stance is firm: no armed confrontation. “We are resolute. We will not take part in military action against Hamas,” he said.

The deployment plan, which envisioned up to 8,000 Indonesian troops joining an International Stabilization Force (ISF), has been suspended following the escalation of hostilities between the US-Israel alliance and Iran. “After the war broke out, we consulted with many parties. The reality is everything is on hold,” President Prabowo explained.

While Indonesia’s military preparations remain in place, the mission awaits both a UN mandate and a more stable security environment. For now, Jakarta’s message is clear: its peacekeeping role in Gaza is rooted in humanitarian protection, not military confrontation. ***