Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Forum of Retired Indonesian Military (TNI) Members (FPP) has called on President Prabowo Subianto to withdraw the plan to deploy 8,000 Indonesian troops to the Palestinian enclave, Gaza. Indonesia's involvement in the Trump-backed International Stabilization Force (ISF) is deemed a violation of the country's constitution.
Retired General Fachrul Razi explained that Indonesia's involvement in international peacekeeping forces can only be carried out under a UN mandate and not any other organization.
"Especially with the Board of Peace that is headed by an American general. This truly offends the feelings of our Palestinian friends," Fachrul said after the FPP meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Additionally, the deployment of a large-scale troop like this must also be coordinated, consulted, and approved by the House of Representatives (DPR). FPP believes that the lack of a thorough planning process with the parliament, and the decision made solely by the president indicate that TNI's involvement in ISF is not a national agenda, but Prabowo's personal project.
"According to the constitution, strategic decisions must receive approval from the DPR and all relevant parties," Fachrul said.
The former Religious Affairs Minister said Prabowo's claim that Indonesia would not be involved in armed operations, coupled with Indonesia's strategic role as the Deputy Commander of ISF, does not sufficiently guarantee that ISF will not oppress Palestine as promised by the United States.
In the military, Fachrul mentioned, the positions of deputy commander and commander are a package deal. When the commander represented by the US decides to carry out a disarmament operation, it is impossible for the Indonesian deputy commander to refuse. "The commander and the deputy commander are a single entity within the organization. It is impossible for the decisions of the commander and the deputy commander to diverge," he said.
Today, a number of retired TNI soldiers who are members of FPP held a meeting at the LAFKESPRI office in Tebet, South Jakarta. The forum affirmed the retirees' stance on several decisions made by Prabowo in the Board of Peace. As planned, the results of this meeting will be conveyed to Prabowo through an open letter in the near future.