March 17, 2026 | 07:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that all discussions regarding the Board of Peace (BoP) are currently on hold, effectively delaying the deployment of Indonesian peacekeeping troops to Gaza.
"We wish to convey that the deployment of Indonesian peacekeeping forces to Gaza is currently postponed, and all discussions related to the Board of Peace remain suspended," MoFA spokesperson Nabyl A. Mulachela told Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
The ministry issued the clarification in response to mounting questions regarding reports that an international force would begin operations in the Gaza Strip as early as May.
The spokesperson emphasized that any potential Indonesian participation in an International Stabilization Force (ISF) remains strictly under national control and must be anchored in a UN Security Council mandate.
"Indonesia's involvement in the ISF is entirely under Indonesian national control, based on the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), and remains in line with our active and independent foreign policy, national interests, and international law," Nabyl stated.
On Sunday, Anadolu, citing Israel's public broadcaster KAN, reported that Israel is preparing for the arrival of international troops in Gaza this May as part of a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
The report claimed the force is expected to include approximately 5,000 soldiers from Indonesia, alongside smaller contingents from Kazakhstan, Morocco, Albania, and Kosovo, with operations potentially starting on May 1.
The plan reportedly involves stationing troops around a Palestinian city currently being constructed with UAE support in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, before expanding their presence throughout the region.
Furthermore, the report suggested that military delegations from the participating nations are expected to arrive in Israel within two weeks to conduct reconnaissance tours in Gaza ahead of the official deployment.
However, on March 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already announced a suspension of all discussions related to the Board of Peace following the escalation of conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance on February 28.
According to ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkan, the decision was made because Indonesia’s current priority is monitoring the volatile dynamics in the Middle East and ensuring the safety of Indonesian citizens in the region.
"As the Foreign Minister mentioned a few days ago, all discussions with the BoP are currently on hold," Yvonne added.
Read: Israel Seeks to Deploy Gaza Stabilization Force in May, Media Reports
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