Hamas Says Any International Force in Gaza Must Guard Borders, Not Run Civil Affairs

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan has issued a warning to the proposed International Stabilization Forces (ISF) — including any contingent that could come from Indonesia — about how such troops should operate if deployed to the Gaza Strip.

Hamdan said he had been in contact with relevant parties, including Indonesia, which he claimed was planning to send thousands of troops to Gaza as part of the ISF.

“We stress that for this to be achieved properly, the forces must be stationed at the borders, separating Palestinians from the occupation, and preventing the occupation from continuing its aggression against the Palestinian people,” Hamdan said in an interview with Aljazeera Mubasher released on Wednesday (Feb. 11).

He also disclosed what he described as the outcome of his communication with Indonesian counterparts regarding the objective of any troop deployment to Gaza.

According to Hamdan, Indonesia’s role would be limited to separating Palestinians from Israeli forces and preventing further aggression, and it would not interfere in civilian governance.

“We have heard clear statements from all these countries that they will not be parties implementing Israel’s agenda against the Palestinian people or carrying out aggression against them,” Hamdan said.

“You hear this explicitly from the Indonesian government: they will not be a party to, or an executor of, any Israeli agenda in the Gaza Strip,” he added.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Indonesia would become the first country to deploy international troops to Gaza, weeks after United States President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP) in Washington.

Speculation about an Indonesian deployment has circulated after Indonesia was mentioned as one of the countries expected to contribute personnel to the ISF, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and others.

The ISF — including any Indonesian troops — would be tasked with securing and monitoring a ceasefire, including addressing border-related issues.

As an example, Indonesian personnel could be assigned to monitor border lines in Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza.

Separately, Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the Defense Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) at the Defense Ministry’s Secretariat General, said Indonesia’s efforts to support peace, a ceasefire and reconstruction in Gaza were still in preparation.

Rico said Indonesia continued to coordinate with partners while awaiting an international mandate and an official government decision.

“As for the report that Indonesia will be the ‘first country’ to send troops, we cannot yet confirm that information,” Rico said on Tuesday.

Indonesianpost.com | CNNIndonesia