Dio Suhenda and Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) is ramping up preparations for a planned deployment of its personnel to Gaza as it awaits an official order from President Prabowo Subianto on Indonesia's participation in the international stabilization force (ISF) for the war-torn enclave.

The military is "ready to support Prabowo's decision" when made, said TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Freddy Ardianzah, adding that the force is working with the Defense Ministry on the planning and preparation for the peacekeeping deployment.

Preparations include mapping troop requirements as well as ensuring readiness in logistics, equipment and other operational capabilities suited to the missions potentially undertaken.

"In every deployment decision, we will carefully consider troop readiness, logistical support, risk assessments and the safety of our personnel, following the United Nations standards and TNI procedures," Freddy told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"The security and well-being of our soldiers remain the top priority in this humanitarian and peacekeeping mission," the two-star Marine general added.

Freddy made the statement after the UN Security Council voted on Nov. 17 in favor of the United States-drafted resolution backing President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. The resolution includes the deployment of the ISF to help secure the Gaza Strip, and a path to a future Palestinian state.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation with a long experience in UN peacekeeping missions, is among countries the US has discussed the ISF plan with, in addition to Azerbaijan, Egypt and Qatar.

Prabowo has already repeatedly declared Indonesia's readiness to send up to 20,000 troops for the mission. But as of Saturday, he had not announced when the deployment would begin or how many soldiers would be sent to Gaza.

The TNI's preparations are being carried out while "awaiting the government's political decision" regarding the deployment of the peacekeeping mission, in accordance with international legal frameworks, Freddy said.

Army spokesperson Col. Donny Pramono said separately on Thursday that the force had conducted a "rigorous" selection for soldiers who may be deployed on the mission. The process is to make sure their health and psychological readiness to operate in high-risk environments.

He added that each soldier must have a thorough understanding of the mission mandate, the underlying resolutions and the rules of engagement to prevent them from committing errors on the ground. They also need to ensure every action aligns with international law and the UN regulations.

"The Army always ensures soldiers sent on peacekeeping missions are highly trained and ready to perform professionally," Donny said, as quoted by Kompas.com.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin reiterated Prabowo's commitment for Indonesia to send up to 20,000 troops, adding they would focus on areas such as health and infrastructure. But the minister also acknowledged the final decision on deployment would rest on Prabowo.

"The TNI has prepared its units for peacekeeping duties under the UN. We are now waiting for the government's political decision," the minister said on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

The UN resolution, revised several times as a result of high-stakes negotiations, "endorses" Trump's plan, which allowed for a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to take hold on Oct. 10 in Gaza, AFP reported.

Conditions in Gaza, however, remain unstable as fresh strikes by the Israeli military and mutual accusations of truce violations by both parties have raised doubts on how long the ceasefire can hold.

The latest Israeli strike took place on Saturday, in which Gaza's civil defense agency saying that 21 people had been killed and dozens more wounded, AFP reported. Israel claimed it was in response to an "armed terrorist" crossing the so-called Yellow Line boundary within the Gaza Strip which Israel has withdrawn to, and firing at Israeli soldiers.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as of Thursday, at least 312 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the truce took hold.

Hamas called the attacks a dangerous escalation and urged Arab mediators, Turkey and the US, which brokered the ceasefire, to intervene.

Source: https://asianews.network/indonesias-military-gears-up-awaits-order-for-gaza-peace-mission