The government continues to monitor developments in the Gaza Strip following Washington’s announcement of a deal for Hamas’ disarmament, but will keep its contribution to the United States-led Board of Peace and its peacekeeping force on hold amid regional uncertainties.
No decision has yet been made on Indonesia’s role in the proposed peacekeeping mission in Gaza, dubbed the International Stabilization Force (ISF), despite signals from US President Donald Trump that it would be deployed in the near future, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang.
With the government taking note of Trump’s announcement and continuing to monitor developments in Gaza and the broader situation in the Middle East, Yvonne said on Friday: “The government has placed all discussions related to the Board of Peace, including the possibility of Indonesia contributing to the (ISF), on hold.
“The decision reflects ongoing developments on the ground and the highly fluid regional security situation,” she went on to say.
Indonesia has indefinitely suspended all internal deliberations on its participation in the Board of Peace since March amid escalating tensions between the United States and Israel and Iran, as Jakarta reviews its involvement in light of the deteriorating regional security conditions.
Speculation over Gaza’s postwar future resurfaced late on Thursday Jakarta time following a social media post by Trump claiming that an agreement for a “complete disarmament” of Hamas had been reached.
The US president called the deal a critical step toward establishing a new Palestinian government in the war-ravaged exclave.
Trump said Hamas’ disarmament would precede the next phases of his 20-point plan, which include the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, as well as a joint operation between the ISF and a new Palestinian police force.
The ISF is a proposed multinational peacekeeping mission under the Board of Peace tasked with helping maintain security in postwar Gaza, supporting Palestinian security forces, protecting reconstruction efforts and facilitating the political transition in the territory.
So far, five countries have pledged troops to the ISF, which is expected to comprise 20,000 personnel. Indonesia, which is expected to hold the second-highest command in the force, has pledged various numbers of troops so far, ranging from 600 to 20,000.
“This is a monumental step toward lasting peace and security,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
“Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its people.”
But details of the agreement remain unclear, with Hamas and Israel painting a far less definitive picture than Washington’s portrayal of a major breakthrough.
On Friday, Hamas confirmed it had signed an agreement with Washington to end the war in Gaza, including provisions governing the future of its weapons.
But it avoided using the term “disarmament”, while insisting that any changes to its arsenal must come only after Israel completes its withdrawal from the territory. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
