Image: from Open Source Intel X@Osint613
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
JERUSALEM — In a landmark development for the stabilization of the Gaza Strip, Indonesia has announced its readiness to deploy up to 8,000 troops as part of an international peacekeeping mission. The move, confirmed on February 10, 2026, marks the first concrete military commitment to the “International Stabilization Force” (ISF) proposed under President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace initiative.
A Historic Deployment
The announcement by General Maruli Simanjuntak, the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff, positions the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation as a central pillar of the post-war security architecture. If realized, this would be the first time a foreign military force has been stationed in Gaza since 1967.
According to reports from Israeli public radio, a site in southern Gaza—strategically located between the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis—has already been designated for the construction of an Indonesian barracks.
“Peacemakers, Not Combatants”
General Maruli emphasized that while the Indonesian military is currently training units for the mission, their role is envisioned as supportive and humanitarian.
“We have started training people who could potentially become peacemakers,” Maruli stated. “We are preparing engineering and health units for this purpose.”
The deployment is part of “Phase II” of the Trump plan, which aims for the gradual demilitarization of Gaza and the transfer of governance to a council of Palestinian technocrats. However, the mission remains fraught with diplomatic hurdles. Many potential troop contributors, including Indonesia, have expressed reluctance to engage in direct combat or the forced disarmament of Hamas, preferring a stabilization and reconstruction mandate.
The “Board of Peace” Gamble
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has also agreed to join the “Board of Peace,” a Trump-led committee of world leaders designed to oversee the peace process. The board is scheduled to hold its first full meeting next Thursday.
While the move has been hailed by some as a bold step toward regional stability, it has drawn skepticism back in Jakarta. Critics and analysts warn that the mission is a “diplomatic gamble,” noting that Indonesia risks becoming entangled in an intractable conflict if the board’s actions do not align with the ultimate goal of Palestinian sovereignty.
Regional Resistance
The arrival of an Islamic peacekeeping force is expected to face fierce domestic opposition within Israel. Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have already voiced concerns that such a force represents a “backdoor” to Palestinian statehood and would hinder Israeli security control over the territory.
As the 100-day deadline for the Trump administration’s peace goals approaches in May, the success of the Indonesian deployment is seen as the ultimate litmus test for whether Gaza can transition from a zone of active combat to an internationally supervised reconstruction project.