Why Indonesia’s lead role in Gaza peacekeeping force carries high political risk

Indonesia’s decision to accept a deputy commander post in the United States-led International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza has placed it in a position to play a prominent role in the mission as it prepares to deploy thousands of troops to the war-torn enclave.While the Indonesian government has stressed that its personnel would focus on protecting civilians and supporting humanitarian efforts, analysts say the ISF’s broader objectives – including the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups such as Hamas – could test its non-combat pledge and place it in a politically delicate position.At the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, attended by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Major General Jasper Jeffers, commander of the ISF, said that he “has offered and Indonesia has accepted the position of deputy commander for the ISF”.Prabowo told reporters after the meeting that he would “search for a good [soldier]” to fulfil the new post.Indonesia planned to send up to 8,000 military personnel to Gaza, which could increase “if necessary”, and “advanced groups” would be deployed within one or two months to survey conditions on the ground and assess security risks, Prabowo said.The country would be among the first five contributors to the ISF, alongside Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania, according to Jeffers. Egypt and Jordan would help train a new transitional Palestinian police force. The ISF’s personnel would likely total 20,000, he said.