board of peace: Iran war complicates plans for yet-to-materialise international force in Gaza
The American general, who is expected to lead the 20,000-strong force, said it would ensure “future prosperity and lasting peace” after the devastating Israel-Hamas war.
Three months later, he still lacks the strength to lead, as none of the five countries that pledged troops have made a significant contribution.
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Efforts to shore up the fragile ceasefire have stalled as Hamas refuses to disarm and seizes more territory while continuing to kill what Israel claims are militant targets, often civilians.
Meanwhile, the Iran war has made it difficult for Arab and Muslim leaders to cooperate openly with the United States and Israel, which many in the region view as aggressors, and the resulting global energy crisis has drained their resources.
Indonesia commits to indefinite suspension of 8,000 troops
The biggest blow to the planned force came about a week after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, when Indonesia indefinitely suspended its commitment to 8,000 troops. Approximately 1,000 soldiers were to be sent in April and the rest in June.
The Indonesian entry was by far the largest of the group, which also includes Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania. Speaking at the Peace Board event, US Major General Jasper Jeffers would assume command of the force.
Indonesia suspended its plans after Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said last week there appeared to be a lack of commitment from a distracted Washington, saying “we haven’t received any implementation guidance yet.”
“New dynamics have emerged,” he told parliament. “Because the intensity of the conflict between US and Iranian forces was so high, the BoP tended to fall behind. Because the BoP was left behind, the ISF also fell behind.”
US attack on Iran affected Indonesia’s decision
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, director of the Indonesia-Middle East/North Africa desk at the Jakarta Center for Economic and Legal Research, said domestic issues may have influenced Indonesia’s decision.
The Iran war is deeply unpopular in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country. The economy suffers from rising prices as a result of the conflict, and there is widespread suspicion of the Peace Board.
“If you talk to people on the street, I don’t think they believe the Peace Board will actually help the people of Gaza,” Rakhmat said. He also stated that there are concerns about sending troops to the Middle East at a time when the economy is deteriorating.
Indonesia lost four peacekeepers serving at the United Nations mission in Lebanon during clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. This, he said, further distorts public opinion of such international commitments.
Peace Board held Hamas responsible for halting ceasefire
The U.S. military’s Central Command declined to comment or make Jeffers available for an interview, referring all questions to the Peace Board.
Peace Board spokesman Brad Klapper also declined to comment on Indonesia’s decision or the future of the stabilization force, instead pointing to remarks at the UN on May 21 by former Bulgarian defense minister Nickolay Mladenov, whom Trump appointed to head the Peace Board.
Mladenov said that the international force cannot begin operations until the second phase of the ceasefire, which will enable Hamas to disarm and Israel to begin withdrawing, is agreed upon and implemented. Israeli soldiers control 60 percent of Gaza.
Mladenov blamed Hamas for the stalemate, saying disarmament was “non-negotiable” and hindered progress on other fronts, including Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction.
“You cannot build a future with armed groups roaming the streets, hiding in tunnels and stockpiling weapons,” Mladenov said in Jerusalem this month. “You can’t reconstruct when there are militias on every corner.”
Hamas blamed Israel for delays
Hamas said Israel had repeatedly violated the ceasefire, delayed its implementation, and accused Mladenov of siding with Israel.
Israeli attacks have killed more than 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire, according to local health officials. Israel says it is responding to ceasefire violations.
Hamas also demands Israel withdraw from areas it has captured since the beginning of the ceasefire, according to an Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. Egypt has been mediating with Hamas for a long time.
The official said most of the countries that had pledged force refused to send troops without an agreement to disarm Hamas.
Token forces have been processed and none are known to be in the field yet
Kazakhstan said its support for the stabilization force would be limited to the “humanitarian component”, including sending medical units along with a field hospital. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The Albanian Ministry of Defense also declined to comment on the troop commitment, saying it was a “dynamic and ongoing process.”
Earlier this month, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Arben Kingji told reporters that the army was “participating in reconnaissance activities” but had not yet sent any troops.
Only a few people will be sent as part of the stabilization force headquarters, he said, without giving numbers, and that more contributions would be taken into account.
Kosovo, which is expected to send 20 soldiers, announced in April that it was “in the final stage of preparations”. The Department of Defense did not respond to a request for an update.
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also did not respond. At the opening meeting of the Peace Board, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said that “senior military officers will be assigned to the joint military command of the ISF.”
A comeback cannot be ruled out in Indonesia
Despite delays from Indonesia, Rakhmat said it was too early to rule out eventual participation in the stabilization force.
Rakhmat said President Prabowo Subianto is a former army general who is keen to raise Indonesia’s profile on the world stage and wants to prevent economic ties with the United States from being jeopardized.
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“Prabowo wants to strengthen ties with Washington and sign different agreements with the United States, so withdrawing the plan completely and canceling it completely, I don’t think that’s on the table,” he said.
