Indonesia’s pledge to send troops to Gaza as part of a US-backed international stabilisation force (ISF) has prompted warnings by analysts that the Muslim-majority nation could be drawn into combat operations or accused of abandoning the Palestinian cause.
They said Jakarta’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood was in contrast with the ISF’s mandate – particularly if the latter involves disarming Hamas – and the move could spur claims that Indonesia is siding with the US and Israel.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly promised to send up to 20,000 troops to Gaza to help with peacekeeping operations.
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Details of the planned deployment became clearer in the past few days following an endorsement of a US-drafted resolution for a peace plan in Gaza by the UN Security Council on November 17. The resolution was backed by 13 countries, with two abstentions from China and Russia.
On Monday, Agus Subiyanto, commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) said the military was in the process of selecting personnel for the peacekeeping troops for Gaza.
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“The selection stage for the [Indonesian] peacekeeping contingent is now under way. The plan is for it to be led by a three-star general,” Agus told reporters on Monday.