Indonesia readies 1,000 troops for potential peacekeeping force in Gaza in April
World
The final deployment decision will be made by the government, spokesperson Donny Pramono said
(Web Desk) - Indonesia is readying 1,000 troops for potential deployment in Gaza by early April as part of a proposed multinational peacekeeping force, its army spokesperson said on Monday, Reuters reported.
The final deployment decision will be made by the government, spokesperson Donny Pramono said, adding that a total of 8,000 soldiers will be ready for deployment by June.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the Board of Peace member states will announce at an upcoming meeting on Thursday (Feb 19) a pledge of more than US$5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump wrote that member states have also committed thousands of personnel toward a UN-authorised stabilisation force and local police in the Palestinian enclave.
The US president said Thursday's gathering, the first official meeting of the group, will take place at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace, which the State Department recently renamed after the president. Delegations from more than 20 countries, including heads of state, are expected to attend.
While regional Middle East powers, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel, as well as emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board, global powers and traditional Western US allies have been more cautious.
PERMANENT MEMBERS PAY US$1 BILLION
Its permanent members must pay US$1 billion to join, leading to criticism that the board could become a "pay-to-play" version of the UN Security Council.
Trump launched his "Board of Peace" at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.
Some countries, including Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand and Norway, have declined to join.
The board's creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of the Trump administration's plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The two sides agreed to the plan last year with a ceasefire officially taking effect in October, although both have accused each other repeatedly of violating the ceasefire.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the territory since the ceasefire began. Israel has said four of its soldiers have been killed by Palestinian militants in the same period.
