Indonesia Named Deputy Commander of Gaza Stabilization Force – 8,000 Troops to Deploy

Indonesia to Serve as Deputy Commander for Gaza ISF, Citing Troop Numbers and Military Reputation

Saturday, February 21, 2026 – Indonesia’s appointment as deputy commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza is directly linked to its commitment to contribute the largest number of troops to the mission, according to Foreign Minister Sugiono.

While the United States holds the commander position for the ISF, Indonesia secured the role of deputy commander for operations – one of three deputy commander positions within the force. This decision, Sugiono explained, reflects the scale of Indonesia’s contribution.

“Because the Indonesian troops are also the largest there, this deputy commander for operations is also something that honors and appreciates Indonesia’s track record,” Sugiono said in a virtual press release.

Indonesia has pledged to deploy approximately 8,000 soldiers to Gaza, exceeding the commitments of other participating nations including Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania. The ISF is intended to stabilize the Gaza Strip, with initial deployments planned for the Rafah sector, alongside training for local police forces.

Sugiono also emphasized the reputation of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) as a key factor in the decision. “Then the reputation of Indonesian soldiers in various peacekeeping fields,” he added.

The strategic position within the ISF is expected to allow Indonesia to play a significant role in improving the welfare of the Palestinian people, Sugiono stated. “I think this position will also facilitate what we aim and intend to do by sending troops to ISF,” he said.

The plan for the ISF deployment was initially announced at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, D.C., which was attended by President Prabowo Subianto and the Chair of the National Committee for Gaza Administration (NCAG) Ali Shaath.

Nickolay Mladenov, the director-general of the Board of Peace, has stated that the reconstruction of Gaza is contingent upon disarmament. “There is no other choice but full demilitarization and the disarmament of all weapons in Gaza so that reconstruction can begin and the Palestinian people can have a new way of life ahead,” Mladenov said.

However, Hamas, the armed group in Gaza, has rejected these demands and signaled its unwillingness to surrender its weapons or accept foreign intervention. Khaled Meshaal, a senior leader of Hamas, described the criminalization of resistance as “unacceptable” at a conference in Doha earlier this month.

The ISF plans to deploy forces across five sectors of Gaza: Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir el-Balah, Gaza City, and Northern Gaza, with each sector assigned one ISF brigade. A medium-term strategy involves expanding sector by sector, with a long-term goal of 12,000 police and 20,000 ISF troops on the ground.