Indonesia is deploying 1,000 troops to Gaza by April 2026 as part of Trump's Board of Peace plan
Critics fear Indonesian forces could be used as 'pawns' by the US to control Palestinians and formalize occupation
Indonesia's involvement raises concerns about compromising its historical support for Palestinian rights
President Prabowo's motivations include enhancing Indonesia's global standing and potential strategic benefits
The Board of Peace approach has been criticized as 'colonial' and failing to center Palestinian rights
📖 Full Retelling
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is preparing to deploy 1,000 soldiers to Gaza by April 2026, with the majority of some 8,000 personnel pledged to the Palestinian territory by June, as part of the International Stabilization Force under US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace plan, though many Indonesians question their military's role amid Israel's ongoing war in the region. The deployment marks Indonesia as the first Board of Peace member to commit specific troop numbers to the stabilization force, followed by Kosovo, Morocco, Albania, and Kazakhstan, but critics fear that without UN oversight, Indonesian forces could be used as 'pawns' by the US to control Palestinians and formalize the occupation of Gaza. Associate professor Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad from the University of Indonesia expressed concerns that Indonesia might become 'the buffer to control the Palestinians' and an 'instrument of the occupation,' potentially damaging Indonesia's reputation as a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, has historically supported a two-state solution and maintained no diplomatic relations with Israel due to its backing of the Palestinian cause, while critics describe the Board of Peace approach as fundamentally 'colonial,' designed to achieve 'negative peace without putting the rights and voices of Palestinians at the center.' President Prabowo's motivations for joining the Board of Peace appear multifaceted, reflecting both his desire to enhance Indonesia's global standing and potential strategic calculations, with analysts suggesting he may be seeking Trump's attention and potentially better trade terms, evidenced by a recent trade deal signed during the Board of Peace's inaugural meeting.
🏷️ Themes
Geopolitics, Middle East Conflict, International Relations, Human Rights
The Board of Peace (BoP) is an international organization, established by Donald Trump and led by the government of the United States, which has a stated purpose of promoting peacekeeping around the world. It is named in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 as a body tasked with overseein...
United Nations mandated multinational peacekeeping force for the Gaza Strip
The International Stabilization Force (ISF) is a United Nations-mandated multinational peacekeeping force outlined in the Gaza peace plan agreed by Hamas and Israel in October 2025. The force's stated aims are to help provide security, train a new Palestinian police force, and oversee the demilitari...
Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo (born 17 October 1951) is an Indonesian politician, businessman, and retired military officer who has served as the eighth president of Indonesia since 2024. He previously served as the 26th minister of defense under President Joko Widodo from 2019 to 2024. Prabowo i...
News | Gaza Solidarity with Palestinians questioned as Indonesian troops set for Gaza President Prabowo Subianto is trying to expand Indonesia’s global standing, but questions raised about role of military in Gaza peace plan. Listen to this article | 8 mins By Erin Hale Published On 27 Feb 2026 27 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google Indonesia is preparing to send 1,000 soldiers to Gaza within weeks, the first contingent of some 8,000 personnel that Jakarta has pledged to deploy to the Palestinian territory as part of an International Stabilization Force under United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace . Indonesian army spokesperson Brigadier General Donny Pramono told news media the first troops are preparing to reach the enclave by April, and the majority will be on the ground in Gaza by June. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 North Korea’s Kim Jong Un pledges to lift living standards at rare congress list 2 of 4 US pays about $160m towards nearly $4bn in UN dues list 3 of 4 Major road crash leaves 18 dead, 3 injured in northeast Egypt list 4 of 4 Indonesia, Morocco, Kosovo among 5 countries to send troops under Gaza plan end of list But as the hasty deployment approaches, some Indonesians are questioning what role their armed forces will play in the mission amid Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian territory. Indonesia is a seasoned participant in United Nations-led peacekeeping missions, but critics fear that without oversight by the UN, Indonesian forces could be used as “pawns” by the US – Israel’s foremost ally – to control Palestinians in Gaza and formalise the occupation of the enclave. “We are afraid that Indonesia will be used as the buffer to control the Palestinians,” Shofwan Al Banna Choiruzzad, an associate professor at the University of Indonesia, told Al Jazeera. “Indonesia has built a reputation in Palestine as one of the most active partners on the ground. It would be very p...
