The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that a peacekeeping mission in the besieged Gaza Strip is only feasible under a United Nations mandate.
Ministry spokesperson, Rullyansyah Soemirat, highlighted that the UN has not yet addressed initiating a peacekeeping operation in Gaza, as reported by Indonesia’s Antara News Agency.
Soemirat stated, “Countries are currently prioritizing the actual implementation of Resolution 2735, adopted by the UN Security Council in an effort to end hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.”
He added that the number of UN peacekeepers to be deployed and the required expertise would always be tailored to the real situation on the ground.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces Agus Subiyanto expressed Indonesia’s readiness to send personnel for a potential UN-mandated peacekeeping mission in Gaza.
Following a meeting with the House of Representatives’ First Committee on June 5, 2024, Marsudi stated Indonesia’s willingness to deploy peacekeeping forces under a UN mandate.
The next day, Subiyanto announced the preparation of four battalions for a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, should the UN mandate it.
This followed statements by Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subiyanto, who won the presidential election and will take office in October.
During the Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 held in Singapore earlier this month, he said, “We are ready to mandate peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor a potential ceasefire as well as provide protection and security to all parties.”
He also stressed the importance of pursuing comprehensive dialogues and implementing a two-state solution to achieve peace.
