(MENAFN) Indonesia has mobilized 20,000 personnel for potential deployment to the Gaza Strip as part of a peacekeeping operation, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced Friday.

The force comprises medical teams and engineering units prepared for rapid deployment pending necessary international authorization, Sjafrie stated, according to a state-run news agency.

Indonesia is pursuing two pathways to secure deployment approval, including one "under the auspices of the United Nations (UN)," Sjafrie said during a Ministry of Defense meeting in central Jakarta. The alternative involves authorization "under the approval of an international organization initiated by the President of the United States," he added.

The defense minister indicated the second pathway would demand extensive diplomatic negotiations and interstate agreements at the highest governmental levels.

"For Arab countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, if they give the green light, Indonesia would be happy to get involved," said Sjafrie, emphasizing that Israel's consent for the initiative would be critical.

Under US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to terminate the Gaza conflict, a staged ceasefire arrangement between Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Israel, facilitated through regional and international mediation, commenced October 10.

Phase one encompasses the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees and a limited Israeli military withdrawal. It also proposes Gaza reconstruction and establishment of a new administrative framework excluding Hamas, including a provisional International Stabilization Force (ISF).

Specific implementation details remain unfinalized.

Israel persistently breaches the ceasefire agreement daily, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties.

Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have killed more than 69,000 victims, predominantly women and children, wounded over 170,000, and rendered the enclave uninhabitable.

Intelligence sharing with Jordan
Sjafrie's announcement coincided with Jordanian King Abdullah II's visit to Jakarta, where he convened with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

The defense minister confirmed Indonesia and Jordan will establish intelligence-sharing protocols regarding Gaza's situation.

Following his consultation with Armed Forces chief Yousef Ahmed Al-Hunaiti, Sjafrie stated: "We will jointly form a committee to exchange intelligence and updates. Given Jordan's geographic proximity to Gaza, we see strategic value in collaborating with them to better understand conditions on the ground."

Sjafrie emphasized Jakarta requires the intelligence apparatus given its peacekeeping force deployment preparations.

He disclosed the two nations will additionally cooperate on drone technology advancement through a partnership between state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad and Jordan's defense company Deep Element, forming part of expanded bilateral military agreements aimed at strengthening defense technology capabilities.

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