Indonesia will await for a mandate from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) before sending its peacekeeping troops to Gaza, Foreign Minister Sugiono has said, as the United States continues to prepare an outline for deploying peace troops in the war-torn Palestinian enclave as soon as possible.
There has so far been no further details or discussions between the Foreign Ministry and their US counterparts on the so-called International Stabilization Force (ISF) that would be deployed in Gaza, the minister said.
“Indeed we’re committed to send peacekeeping personnel to address the situation in Gaza. But details or the term of reference for that matter remain unclear,” Sugiono said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday after a series of ASEAN-related meetings.
“There has to be a mandate from the UNSC, which we hope will be issued. There has been no discussions so far, and we’re far from settling any details.”
Washington is still drafting a framework for an international peacekeeping force in Gaza three weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, as parties weigh in on what such a mission should entail.
The ISF is expected to be temporarily deployed in Gaza’s key areas to prevent renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas, protect aid convoys and support a transitional government. It is among requirements in the 20-point peace plan led by US President Donald Trump, who pledged to provide up to 200 troops to support the initiative.