Observer Cautions Indonesia Against US-Led Gaza Force Without UN Backing
- Analyst Dina Sulaeman says any TNI deployment to Gaza must be grounded in a strong UN mandate to avoid legal and political backlash.
- She warns a US-led framework could conflict with Indonesia’s stated support for Palestinian sovereignty if Palestinians are excluded from decision-making.
- Dina adds that the likelihood of friction with Hamas would depend on the rules of engagement and who ultimately commands the force.
International relations observer Dina Sulaeman has warned that any plan to deploy Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel to Gaza must first be anchored in a clear and strong basis under international law. She said the mechanism chosen would determine whether Indonesia’s presence supports — or instead conflicts with — its long-standing commitment to Palestinian sovereignty.
“If it’s true that the TNI will enter Gaza, the first thing that must be ensured is the international legal basis,” Dina said when contacted by Republika on Wednesday (Feb. 11, 2026). “Is it under a United Nations Security Council mandate — meaning the highest command is under the UN — or is it only through initiatives like the BoP or the ISF, which were initiated by the United States and commanded by the US?”
Dina cautioned that without a robust UN mandate, the presence of foreign military forces in Gaza could be perceived as violating international law. She also said such a move could appear inconsistent with Indonesia’s stated position of supporting Palestine.
“Without a strong UN mandate, the presence of foreign military forces risks being seen as a violation of international law and could be contradictory to Indonesia’s commitment to Palestinian sovereignty,” she said.
Dina then elaborated on what she meant by “contradictory.” In her view, sovereignty fundamentally means Palestinians themselves have the right to determine their future and manage their territory.
“The contradiction is this: The essence of sovereignty is that Palestinians are the ones who have the right to determine their future and the governance of their territory,” she said. “We claim to support Palestinian sovereignty, but then join a US-formed troop deployment scheme that ignores Palestinian sovereignty. That’s where the contradiction lies.”
Asked whether an Indonesian deployment could potentially trigger clashes with Hamas, Dina said the risk would depend heavily on the rules of engagement set on the ground.
“Whether it could clash with Hamas or not depends very much on the rules — what authority it has, what the standard operating procedures on the ground look like, and so on,” she said. “If the force is led by the US and regulated by the US, the rules will certainly favor Israel.”
When asked whether a troop deployment, even if driven by good intentions and based on applicable laws, would still be contradictory, Dina reiterated that the contradiction arises if the deployment is not carried out under a United Nations framework.
“Yes — if the troop deployment is not within the UN scheme,” she said.
Dina again emphasized her definition of Palestinian sovereignty, which she said must be the main reference point for any policy related to Gaza.
“Sovereignty means Palestinians are the ones who have the right to determine their future and the governance of their territory,” she said.
She also highlighted the BoP scheme, which she claimed does not involve Palestinians. Dina said the ISF was formed under that arrangement.
“This BoP does not involve Palestinians. The ISF was formed under the BoP,” she said.
Indonesianpost.com | Republika
