"Indonesia has said it is preparing to send up to 8,000 troops to Gaza to be part of a peacekeeping force under Donald Trump's Middle East plan. The announcement by the army chief of staff, Gen Maruli Simanjuntak, makes Indonesia the first country to deliver a specific commitment to the international stabilisation force (ISF) envisaged as part of the second phase of the Trump plan. Israeli public radio reported on Tuesday morning that a site in south Gaza, between Rafah and Khan Younis, had been designated for a barracks for the Indonesian force."
"The arrival of Indonesian peacekeepers in Gaza would be historic, as the first outside force on the territory since 1967. It would also put the world's most populous Islamic country at the heart of the Middle East's most intractable conflict. Maruli said he expected an army brigade, between 5,000 and 8,000 troops, to be sent but emphasised that the mission was still in the planning stages."
"The potential role of an international force has been hazy since Trump suggested it as part of his ceasefire plan in September last year. Suggested troop contributors, Indonesia included, have been reluctant to put their forces in the position of trying to disarm Hamas on Israel's behalf. Violence has reduced under a ceasefire announced in October, but there is still near-daily Israeli bombardment, and more than 500 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was declared."
Indonesia plans to deploy an army brigade of between 5,000 and 8,000 troops to Gaza to join an international stabilisation force envisioned in the second phase of Trump's Middle East plan. A site in south Gaza, between Rafah and Khan Younis, has been reported as designated for an Indonesian barracks. The deployment would be the first foreign force on Gaza since 1967 and would place Indonesia centrally in the conflict. The mission remains in planning and negotiation, with Indonesian preparations focused on engineering and health units and reluctance among contributors to disarm Hamas on Israel's behalf.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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