Army to Form Core Units of Indonesia’s Planned Gaza Peacekeeping Brigades

Jakarta: Indonesia’s Army Information Chief Colonel Donny Pramono said most of the peacekeepers the country plans to deploy to Gaza, Palestine will come from the Army, reflecting its central role in the humanitarian mission.

He told Antara Tuesday 25 November 2025 that the initial plan envisions about 20,000 peacekeepers, with the Army contributing roughly 60 percent of the total force once the deployment is approved by national authorities.

Donny said Army personnel will form key elements of three composite brigades designated as Indonesia’s main peacekeeping components for operations in Gaza.

Each composite brigade will include a Health Battalion, an Engineering Battalion, and a Support Battalion expected to lead humanitarian operations in the enclave.

“These battalions will provide medical services for war-affected civilians and construct public facilities needed for recovery efforts,” Donny said.

He said the Army has been preparing personnel, equipment, and technical capabilities to ensure mission readiness, including specialized medical, engineering, and logistical support skills.

All Army personnel assigned to the mission, he added, have expertise that aligns with the humanitarian requirements of operations in Gaza.
The Army is still awaiting directives from the military commander and the central government before sending troops.

Earlier, Armed Forces Spokesman Major General Freddy Ardianzah said the Support Battalion will play a crucial role in logistics, humanitarian aid distribution, and supply-chain management throughout Gaza.

He said the battalion will also coordinate troop transport by land, sea, and air to ensure orderly and monitored movement in the field.

The unit will additionally manage communications equipment and provide IT support, command-and-control functions, and security for vital facilities in the operational area.

“To handle these tasks, the military has prepared personnel with specific technical skills, though they are not part of Indonesia’s special forces,” Freddy said.

He added that the battalion will include members from all service branches, selected based on mission-specific competencies.

Indonesia previously announced plans to deploy Health and Engineering Battalions to Gaza before expanding the mission to include the Support Battalion. Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto said the three battalions will operate under three composite brigades prepared by military headquarters.

Indonesia will first send an advance team to assess conditions in Gaza and determine suitable deployment areas. He did not specify when the peacekeepers will depart, saying the military is awaiting government orders, Agus said.